New Delhi: The expansion of BJP’s recently formed Rajasthan government’s cabinet took place on Saturday in Raj Bhawan. With the cabinet explanation, the Bhartiya Janta Party tried to achieve a much-needed balance between the old veteran faces and new emerging leaders of the party.
The party added a total of 12 MLAs including Rajyavardhana Singh Rathore, Kirodi Lal Meena, Kanhaiya Lal Choudhary, Sumit Godara, Gajendra Singh Khimsar, Nandlal Meena, Avinash Gehlot, Hemant Meena, Joraram Patel, Babu lal Khardi, Madan Dilawar & Suresh Singh Rawat to Bhanan Lal’s cabinet who turned ministers after the oath was administered to them by Rajasthan’s governor Kalraj Mishra.
Besides this, 5 MLAs including Sanjay Sharma, Gautam Kumar, Jhabra Singh, Surendra Pal Singh, and Heeralal were sworn in as independent charge MoS of the state, while Otaram Devasi, Manju, Vijay Chaudhry, KK Bshnoi, and Jawahar Singh were added to Bhajan Lal’s team as new state ministers.
Notably, out of these newly sworn MLAs, Rajyavardhana Singh Rathore & Kirodi Lal Meena were some of the top contenders for the CM’s post following BJP’s triumph in the recently concluded state assembly elections. Meanwhile, Baba Balaknath, who is a celebrated political figure and is seen as the CM Yogi of Rajasthan, failed to make it to the chief minister’s cabinet.
Rajasthan Cabinet Expansion: Key highlights
शपथ ग्रहण समारोह
राजस्थान के मंत्रिपरिषद् के मनोनीत सदस्यगण का शपथ ग्रहण | 30 दिसम्बर, 2023@BhajanlalBjp@KumariDiya@DrPremBairwa@RajCMO@RajGovOfficial#Rajasthan#DIPRRajasthan https://t.co/9wuQbh2gTJ
— सूचना एवं जनसम्पर्क विभाग, राजस्थान सरकार (@DIPRRajasthan) December 30, 2023
4:30:PM: 5 more ministers sworn in as new state ministers of Rajasthan
Otaram Devasi, Manju, Vijay Chaudhry, KK Bshnoi, and Jawahar Singh Bedham have been sworn in as new state ministers of Rajasthan
4:15 PM: Jhabra Singh, Surendra Pal Singh & 3 others take oath as Mos
5 Ministers including Sanjay Sharma, Gautam Kumar, Jhabar Singh, Surendra Pal Singh, and Heera Lal have taken oath as MoS (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) in Bhajan Lal’s cabinet.
4:00 PM: Two more MLAs sworn in as ministers:
Kanhaiya Lal Choudhary and Sumit Godara have also taken oath as ministers. So far 12 MLAs have been added to the cabinet of Rajasthan.
3:55: PM: Gajendra Singh Khimsar, Nandlal Meena among the new ministers
Gajendra Singh Khimsar, Nandlal Meena have also been sworn in as ministers in Bhajan Lal Sharma’s cabinet
3:45 PM: Avinash Goehlot, Jogaram Patel & Suresh Singh Rawat administered oath by governer
Avinash Goehlot, Joraram Patel & Suresh Singh Rawat have also found their position in Bhajan Lal Sharma’s cabinet
3:30 PM: Rajasthan Cabinet Expansion begins, Babu Lal Khardi, Madan Dilawar & others take oath
#WATCH | Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma leaves from Raj Bhawan, Jaipur. He paid a courtesy call to Governor Kalraj Mishra. pic.twitter.com/7qKhpG65yJ
— ANI MP/CG/Rajasthan (@ANI_MP_CG_RJ) December 30, 2023
Rajasthan’s governor Kalraj Mishra has administered oaths to several MLAs including Babu lal Khardi, Madan Dilawar Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore & Kirodi Lal Meena in Raj Bhawan.
#WATCH | Jaipur: After swearing in as a cabinet minister in the newly formed BJP government in Rajasthan, Col. Rajyavardhan Rathore says, “This is a great opportunity to work directly for the people of Rajasthan…It’s not always that one gets such an opportunity. Just like I was… pic.twitter.com/3dVabdXCs3
— ANI (@ANI) December 30, 2023
12:30 PM: Rajendra Rathod arrives at BJP office
#WATCH | On cabinet expansion today, Rajasthan BJP leader Rajendra Rathore says, “The cabinet will represent all sections and will be able to fulfil the aspirations of the people of Rajasthan…” pic.twitter.com/dqeukrrm4G
— ANI MP/CG/Rajasthan (@ANI_MP_CG_RJ) December 30, 2023
BJP leader Rajendra Rathod has arrived at the BJP office ahead of the Oath-taking ceremony. He has also claimed that several senior & emerging faces will be introduced in Bhajan Lal’s cabinet today.
12:15 PM: Preparations Underway
The preparations for the Oath taking ceremony are underway in Raj Bhawan where the state’s governor Kalraj Mishra will be administering the office’s oath to the MLAs from 3:30 onwards (approximately)
Noon: Ministers invited over phone
Several ministers including Gagendra Singh, Otaram Devasi, Avinash Gehlot, Hiralal Nagar, Joga Ram Patel, Kirodi Lal Meena, and Madan Lal have been reportedly invited to grace the oath-taking ceremony over phone calls.
Opposition slams BJP for delay in Cabinet formation
Meanwhile, the opposition has been regular with their stance of strongly slamming the BJP government over the long delay in the cabinet formation.
Condemning the party about the same, INC leader and ex-Chief Minister of Rajasthan Ashok Gehlot showcased his disappointment while highlighting that despite getting a thumping victory on 3rd December, the political party has upset Rajasthan’s people by continuously postponing the formation of the cabinet.
