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Tag: ashok gehlot

  • Ahead of Rajasthan Cabinet rejig, Ajay Maken meets MLAs individually 

    By PTI
    JAIPUR: Congress leader Ajay Maken Wednesday began a series of meetings with party MLAs and those supporting it for their feedback on the performance of the Ashok Gehlot government ahead of the state Cabinet reshuffle.

    As Maken began the two-day exercise in the assembly building here, Leader of Opposition Gulabchand Kataria said the Congress leadership holding one-on-one discussions with MLAs indicates the state government is not able to function well.

    The AICC general secretary (Rajasthan in-charge) will hold discussions with party MLAs and those supporting it over the reshuffle exercise, political appointments and the naming of district and block presidents of the party.

    Sources said the MLAs are meeting Maken individually under district-wise slots allotted to them.

    The brainstorming session began with the MLAs from Jaipur.

    “Discussions on various points including the achievements of the government and what else can be done to enhance its performance were held,” Adarsh Nagar MLA (Jaipur) Rafeek Khan told reporters after the meeting.

    He said the implementation of the CM Chiranjeevi Health Insurance scheme was also discussed.

    On the first day on Wednesday, MLAs from Jaipur, Jhunjhunu, Sikar, Alwar, Baran, Dausa, Karauli, Sawaimadhopur, Bharatpur, Bundi, Kota and Dholpur are scheduled to meet Maken, party sources said.

    The MLAs of the remaining district will meet him Thursday.

    Civil Lines MLA and Transport Minister Pratap Singh Khacharyiawas said the Congress is a democratic party and its high command hears all its members.

    “Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot had said to us that he is our guardian.

    Maken is also holding meetings as a guardian,” he said, adding thee is no internal dispute in the party and discussions were held on welfare schemes and their implementation.

    On the Cabinet reshuffle, he said it is the prerogative of the chief minister and the final decision has been left to the party high command.

    Chaksu MLA Vedprakash Solanki, a vocal Sachin Pilot loyalist, said he has apprised Maken of all the issues and is satisfied that the party high command is now listening to all legislators.

    “I gave my suggestions and whatever I had to say, I told him. I am satisfied that our viewpoint is now being communicated directly to the party high command. Now, the high command is not listing only us, but listening to all MLAs,” Solanki said.

    The Congress came to power in December 2018 and has completed half of the tenure.

    Leader of Opposition Kataria said if the “ruling party has this level of dispute that one-on-one meetings with MLAs are required, the government cannot function well”.

    “Such governments are not able to function well and cannot do well for the people,” he said.

    He also questioned the government’s decision to hold the dialogues with the MLAs in the assembly building.

    “In order to maintain the sanctity of the assembly, the Congress party should have organised this exercise somewhere else,” he said.

    In the house of 200, the Congress has 106 MLAs and most of the 13 independents support it.

    On Saturday night, Maken and AICC general secretary KC Venugopal had held a meeting with Chief Minister Gehlot over the Cabinet reshuffle.

    On Sunday, Maken had said there is no dispute on the Cabinet reshuffle in the state and the decision regarding this has been left to the party high command.

    The party’s central leadership will take the final call about the cabinet reshuffle, he had said, adding he will take feedback from the MLAs on all issues and will give a report to the party high command.

    The reshuffle may take place in the next few days.

    Apart from the Cabinet reshuffle, political appointments in various Boards and Corporations and appointments of district and block presidents of the party will also take place soon.

    Pilot and several other MLAs had mounted an open rebellion against Gehlot last June. After a month-long crisis, the Congress top brass had formed a committee to look into the issues raised by Pilot, who alleged that his camp was being sidelined by the Gehlot government.

    Earlier this week, Pilot told reporters that he was in touch with the Congress high command to resolve the issues raised by him and that the “AICC is taking steps for the betterment of the government and party organisation”.

  • Cabinet slots, political positions up for grabs as Congress tries to resolve Rajasthan mess

    Express News Service
    JAIPUR:  Hoping to resolve the rift in the Rajasthan party unity after forcing a solution in Punjab, Congress general secretaries K C Venugopal and Ajay Maken on Sunday indicated a cabinet reshuffle and a clutch of political appointments would be made soon to address the demands of all factions.

    Both held a meeting with PCC president Govind Sigh Dotasra and several state ministers, MLAs and office bearers at the party office here. The meeting happened in the presence of rebel leader and former deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot and his group of MLAs.

    A large group of Pilot’s supporters shouted slogans outside the PCC office while the meeting was on. As they grew more vociferous, Pilot had to send some leaders from his own group to persuade them to pipe down. Earlier in the day, Venugopal and Maken called on Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and reportedly discussed the rejig.

    True to the party’s culture, all leaders left the decision on the reshuffle to the high command. “We’re discussing the cabinet expansion, appointment of district and block-level chiefs of Congress and appointments in boards and corporations with our leaders,” Maken later shared.

    Maken, the AICC general secretary in charge for Rajasthan, however, did not have a date for the cabinet expansion. He will be back in Jaipur on July 28 and 29 for one-on-one meetings with all MLAs. The state cabinet can have a maximum of 30 ministers. It currently has 21, including the CM.

    The Rajasthan impasse has been on ever since Pilot, along with 18 MLAs, rebelled against Gehlot last July. Though Pilot came back to the party after Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s intervention, his demands have not been met. In recent days, the demand for cabinet expansion and political appointments has gained momentum. 

  • KC Venuopal, Ajay Maken’s Jaipur trip strengthens buzz over cabinet rejig in Rajasthan

    Express News Service
    JAIPUR: After settling the rift in the Punjab unit, the Congress High Command is all set to resolve the tussle in the Rajasthan Congress. AICC general secretaries K C Venugopal and Ajay Maken who visited the Rajasthan Congress office on Sunday clearly signalled that the issue of cabinet reshuffle and political appointments in the state would soon be decided by the party’s central leadership.

    Venugopal and Maken held a meeting with PCC president Govind Sigh Dotasra state ministers, MLAs and office bearers of the party in Jaipur. The meeting was also atteded by former Deputy CM Sachin Pilot and his group of MLAs who demanded that they be accommodated in the government and various party positions. A number of Pilot supporters also shouted sloans outside the PCC office while the meeting was underway forcing the former deputy chief minister to send out some of his leaders to pacify them.

    While the workers outside seemed in an aggressive mood, AICC general secretary Maken said all the leaders inside have unanimously left the decision of the cabinet reshuffle to the party high command. Though Maken did not disclose a date of the cabinet expansion, he told reporters, “I can say that there is no contradiction among the party leaders and they all have left the final decision about the cabinet expansion to the party high command.”

    Venugopal, Maken and Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot reportedly held detailed discussions about the forthcoming cabinet reshuffle and other political appointments, according to party sources. “We’re discussing the cabinet expansion, appointment of district and block-level chiefs of Congress and appointments in boards and corporations with our leaders. Everyone has said they would accept what leadership decides,” Maken told the media in Jaipur.

    The’AICC general secretary incharge for Rajasthan also confirmed that he will be back later this month to take first-hand feedback from party MLAs. All Congress MLAs have been asked to be in Jaipur on July 28 and 29 for these one-on-one meetings with Maken and other senior leaders.

    The Rajasthan impasse has been continuing ever since Sachin Pilot, along with 18 MLAs, had rebelled against the leadership of CM Ashok Gehlot last July. Though Pilot had returned to the party fold after Priyanka Gandhi’s intervention, his demands have been pending for almost a year. Last month, some MLAs from Pilot camp had said that the party should fulfil the promises made to Pilot. And in recent days, the demand for cabinet expansion and political appointments has gained considerable momentum.

    The Rajasthan cabinet can have a maximum of 30 ministers but currently it has 21 members in the council of ministers, including the Chief Minister. Besides the nine slots that are vacant in the Gehlot ministry, several key appointments of office bearers in the state and district Congress units are also pending for a long time.

  • Congress high command to take final call on Rajasthan cabinet reshuffle

    By PTI
    JAIPUR: A final decision on the issue of cabinet reshuffle in Rajasthan has been left to the Congress high command and the expansion is likely to be held in the next few days, party sources said.

    AICC general secretaries KC Venugopal and Ajay Maken late on Saturday night held discussions on the issues of cabinet reshuffle and political appointments with Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot at his residence.

    The cabinet expansion is likely to be held in the next few days.

    After discussions, the leaders have left the final decision about the reshuffle to the party high command, the sources said.

    “The meeting lasted for nearly two-and-a-half hours during which discussion on cabinet reshuffle and political appointments were held. The final decision about the reshuffle has been left to the party high command,” the sources told PTI.

    At present, there are 21 members in the council of ministers, including chief minister, and nine slots are vacant.

    Rajasthan can have a maximum of 30 ministers.

    After Punjab, the party high command has shifted its focus to Rajasthan, where demands for Cabinet expansion and political appointments have gained momentum after reports of resentment in the camp led by former deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot, who along with 18 MLAs had rebelled against the leadership of Gehlot last year.

    Three days back, Pilot had indicated that the Congress would take suitable steps soon to address issues raised by him.

    He had said that he is in touch with the party high command over the issues raised by him and hoped that the required steps would be taken soon.

    Pilot was sacked as the deputy chief minister and Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) chief in July last year after he rebelled against the leadership of Gehlot.

    After a one-month-long political crisis, the party high command announced to form a three-member committee to look into the issues raised by him.

    Last month, MLAs from the Pilot camp said that the party should fulfil the promises made to Pilot last month, following which the demand for Cabinet expansion and political appointments gained momentum.

    During the meeting on Saturday night, “It was also decided that political appointments in various boards and corporations should take place as soon as possible with discussion and consensus of elected public representatives, state office bearers and senior leaders of the party,” the sources said.

    It was also decided that the manifesto committee of AICC will hold a meeting to review the progress in the implementation of the party manifesto of Rajasthan.

    The committee chairman will visit the state later this month, the sources added.

    PCC chief Govind Singh Dotasra said that Venugopal and Maken will hold meeting with party MLAs here on Sunday. He also clarified that no meeting of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) has been convened on Sunday.

  • Congress-ruled Rajasthan Cabinet expansion likely next week: Party sources

    By PTI
    JAIPUR: The Congress-ruled Rajasthan is likely to see Cabinet expansion and political appointments next week, party sources said on Saturday.

    AICC general secretary (organisation) KC Venugopal and All India Congress Committee general secretary in charge for Rajasthan arrived here on Saturday night and went to Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot’s residence to hold a discussion with him.

    The sources said that the agenda of the meeting is cabinet reshuffle and other political appointments.

    “Both the leaders have arrived in Jaipur tonight by road,” they said.

    Venugopal is also a Rajya Sabha MP from Rajasthan.

    After Punjab, the party high command has shifted its focus to Rajasthan, where demands for Cabinet expansion and political appointments gained momentum after reports of resentment in the camp led by former deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot, who along with 18 MLAs had rebelled against the leadership of Gehlot last year.

    A couple of days ago, Pilot had indicated that the Congress would take suitable steps soon to address issues raised by him.

    He had said that he is in touch with the party high command over the issues raised by him and hoped that the required steps would be taken soon.

    Pilot was sacked as the deputy chief minister and the Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) chief in July last year after he rebelled against the leadership of Gehlot after a one-month-long political crisis, the party high command announced to form a three-member committee to look into the issues raised by him.

    Last month, MLAs from Pilot camp said that the party should fulfil the promises made to Pilot last month, following which the demand for Cabinet expansion and political appointments gained momentum.

    At present, there are 21 members in the council of ministers, including chief minister, and nine slots are vacant.

    Rajasthan can have a maximum of 30 ministers.

  • Punjab done, Congress now moves to settle Rajasthan issues

    Express News Service
    NEW DELHI: After settling issues in the Punjab unit, the Congress high command is now focusing on Rajasthan to find a solution to the ongoing tussle between Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and former state party chief Sachin Pilot. A decision is expected soon.  

    KC Venugopal, general secretary (organisation) is visiting Jaipur where he is scheduled to meet Gehlot, Pilot, party MLAs and leaders from the state before an organisational rejig in the state unit. There has been long pending demand for a reshuffle in Rajasthan Congress and Pilot has sent several reminders to Congress chief regarding the same.

    “I am a Rajya Sabha MP from Rajasthan and visiting Jaipur for related works,” Venugopal said before leaving for Jaipur.  

    Sources said that the changes in the state unit are expected “as early as next week” with people from Pilot’s group likely to be inducted in the state cabinet, organization, and state boards.

    ALSO READ | Navjot Singh Sidhu takes over as Punjab Congress chief

    It’s been a year since the rebellion by the Pilot camp but the Congress high command has failed to address issues flagged by the former deputy CM. A three-member committee constituted to settle the issue failed to do so in the last year.

    Pilot and MLAs supporting him were removed from the state cabinet and organizational positions after they rebelled against Gehlot. Pilot has maintained that he is not looking for any posts but that his men be accommodated in the cabinet and other organisational posts in the state.  

    “After settling trouble between Punjab CM Amarinder Singh and PCC chief Navjot Sigh Sidhu, the high command wants issues in the Rajasthan unit to be addressed at the earliest. There have been a couple of meetings in the last one week in Delhi and now, the general secretary in-charge organization is in Jaipur to address it. Decisions are expected soon,” sources added.   

    Pilot, who was offered a post in the AICC, has been eyeing the chief minister’s post as he was promised by the top leadership after the party’s election win in 2018. He was assured by former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi and general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra that his concerns will be addressed before the 2023 assembly election.  

  • Rajasthan government to reopen schools from August 2

    Express News Service
    JAIPUR: Schools are all set to reopen in Rajasthan which were closed due to COVID-19. Education Minister Govind Singh Dotasara has announced the opening of all schools in the state from August 2 by tweeting after the cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Thursday evening.

    The government has decided to start classes in schools, colleges and universities. Education Minister Govind Singh Dotasara said that a separate SOP for opening school wills be issued by Home Department in a day or two.

    “We had proposed to the Chief Minister that schools are closed for almost two years and education of backward sections of children is being disrupted in rural areas, so all schools should be opened, which has been approved,” said Dotasra.

    आज हुई कैबिनेट की बैठक में प्रदेश के सभी विद्यालयों को 02 अगस्त से खोलने का निर्णय लिया गया है।@rajeduofficial
    — Govind Singh Dotasra (@GovindDotasra) July 22, 2021

    He added that at present there is no risk of COVID-19 in young children and there is also no clarity about the third wave of COVID. “If the third wave comes, then schools can be closed again in view of the circumstances at that time, but for the time being, all the schools will be opened from August 2,” he clarified.

    Dotasra empasised that all COVID-19 guidelines will be followed in schools and not more than 20 children will be accommodated in a class room. “The health and education of the children will be taken care of and the department will issue guidelines in this respect within a couple of days,” he said.

    Schools, colleges have been closed for students since March 2020.  In the meeting of the Council of Ministers, there was a detailed discussion about starting classes in various educational institutions including schools, colleges, universities.  

    The Council of Ministers sought the opinion on opening schools and colleges from experrs who showed a positive attitude on this. It was agreed in the Council of Ministers that educational institutions should be opened by following the COVID-19 protocol and taking all the precautions.

  • Modi govt can’t tolerate even slightest criticism: Ashok Gehlot on Dainik Bhaskar raids

    By PTI
    JAIPUR: Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Thursday slammed the Income Tax raids at the offices of media houses, terming them as an attempt to suppress their voice.

    The Income Tax Department on Thursday conducted raids against two prominent media groups, Dainik Bhaskar and Uttar Pradesh-based Hindi news channel Bharat Samachar, in multiple cities on charges of tax evasion, official sources said.

    FULL STORY | Income department raids multiple premises of media group Dainik Bhaskar

    Gehlot charged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi led government cannot tolerate even the slightest criticism.

    “Income tax raid on the offices of Dainik Bhaskar newspaper and Bharat Samachar news channel is an attempt to suppress the media.

    Modi government cannot tolerate even the slightest criticism.

    This is the fascist mentality of BJP which does not like to see the mirror of truth in democracy,” Gehlot said in a tweet.

    He charged that by taking such action, the Modi government wants to send a message to media houses that if they are not in their favour then their voice will be crushed.

  • Gehlot asks Modi to increase beneficiary limit of National Food Security Scheme

    By PTI
    JAIPUR: Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Wednesday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi demanding to increase the limit of beneficiaries of the National Food Security Scheme (NFSA) on the basis of present population instead of the 2011 census.

    The chief minister said in the last 10 years, the population of all the states of the country has increased and many families have come under the purview of food security.

    In order to ensure the food security of such needy families, it is necessary to re-fix the ceiling of food security according to the estimated population of 2021.

    In his letter, Gehlot wrote that under the food security scheme in the state, the ceiling of 4,46,00,000 people has been set by the Government of India on the basis of the 2011 census.

    For these beneficiaries, 2,30,882 metric tonnes of food grains are being allocated per month.

    In the last 10 years, a large number of families have become eligible for NFSA, he said.

    According to a statement, the chief minister has urged the Centre to provide food security to 74 lakh more people in the state.

  • Rajasthan approves up to 2 per cent increase in house rent allowance of government employees

    By PTI
    JAIPUR: The Rajasthan government has approved an up to 2 percent increase to the house rent allowance given to government employees.

    Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has increased the house rent allowance payable to state employees on their basic pay from 16 percent to 18 percent in ‘Y’ category cities and from 8 percent to 9 percent in ‘Z’ category cities, an official statement said.

    The increase in house rent allowance will be applicable from July 1, 2021.

    The state government will bear the financial burden of more than Rs 400 crore on this.

    Earlier, an increase in the dearness allowances of government employees from the existing 17 per cent to 28 per cent was made applicable from July 1.