Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot returned from Delhi to Jaipur on Sunday after a series of meetings and consultations with senior Congress leaders, including Rajasthan in-charge Mukul Wasnik, over Cabinet reshuffle and political appointments. Though it is not clear when such changes would take place, sources described the chief minister’s visit as successful.
According to the sources, the chief minister spent almost two days in Delhi and had two meetings with Mr Wasnik on Saturday. Mr Gehlot also had a meeting with Congress general secretary Janardan Dwivedi while discussing various political issues. What has transpired between Mr Wasnik and Mr Gehlot is yet to be made public, but the sources said the issue of political appointments dominated the discussions.
The sources said Mr Gehlot could not meet Congress chief Sonia Gandhi. It was Mr Gehlot’s third visit to Delhi in the last one month. During his earlier visit he had met Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi. The sources said the chief minister and a section of the party were in favour of revamping the three-year-old Cabinet. The Congress government could not make political appointments while the party workers consistently were raising their voice for such appointments.
The state government has to make several appointments in boards, corporations, commissions and other departments, including the minority commission and women’s commission. The party workers are losing patience over the delay.