News Analysis India

Tag: Rajasthan CM

  • All schemes of previous govt will continue: Rajasthan CM Bhajan Lal Sharma

    Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma on Monday said none of the welfare schemes launched by the previous Congress government in the state will be discontinued. He was speaking at a function organised by the BJP to mark Good Governance Day on the birth anniversary of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

    Reacting to the allegations by the Congress that his government would discontinue the public welfare schemes launched by the previous government, Sharma said, “Congress people are saying our work, our schemes… I want to tell you that we will not stop any of the schemes”.

    The chief minister said free medicines will continue to be made available at the government hospitals and the number of essential drugs would also be increased. Vajyapee made schemes for the welfare of the poor and Prime Minister Narendra Modi took the initiative forward, Sharma said.

    BJP stalwart Vajpayee was born on December 25, 1924, and died on August 16, 2018.

    Deputy Chief Minister Diya Kumari and other leaders of the party also paid tributes to Vajpayee on his birth anniversary. The CM also conducted a surprise visit to the state-run Sawai Man Singh Hospital and instructed officials to improve the condition of the facility.

  • Gehlot projects ‘All Is Well’ despite uncertainty over Rajasthan CM Post

    Express News Service

    JAIPUR: While there is much doubt on whether he will continue as Chief Minister, Ashok Gehlot is making every effort to project that ‘All Is Well ‘ and things are quite normal in Rajasthan. After returning from Delhi, he was in Bikaner Division on Saturday for events connected to rural Olympics in the state.

    Meanwhile, the verbal war between the Gehlot and Sachin Pilot factions has also subsided in the past two days after the AICC issued a stern advisory. Both camps are now following a ‘wait and watch’ policy and waiting for the next move of the High Command.

    In the midst of the political turmoil in Congress since the storm last Sunday, discussions on a change of leadership in the state are continuing in full swing. In this era of crisis, the Chief Minister’s visit to Bikaner is in the discussion.

    CM Gehlot on his tour of the Bikaner division looked confident and said that the Congress government will complete its full tenure of five years, and “the last budget of the government will be completely dedicated to the youth.”

    Last Sunday, the CLP meeting called for the selection of a new Chief Minister who was boycotted by MLAs supporting Gehlot.  Among the three conditions that were put in front of the observers sent by AICC, they also included the condition that CM Gehlot should not be changed till the next budget. Due to these conditions, the observers sent by the AICC had to be returned.

    After apologising to Sonia Gandhi in Delhi on Thursday, CM Gehlot participated in rural Olympics in Bikaner, Hanumangarh and Ganganagar districts on Saturday. During this trip, ministers BD Kalla, Bhanwar Singh Bhati and Lalchand Kataria were present with the CM.

    With CM Gehlot out of the race for the next National President of Congress, he reiterated that he will never be far from Rajasthan. He asserted that he hails from the Marwar region of Rajasthan and is not going anywhere from here. To express his rising confidence, CM Gehlot has also restarted his attacks on BJP which he has been doing even before Sunday’s incident. He also accused the BJP of trying to topple his government through horse-trading and praised Rahul Gandhi. CM Gehlot also said that BJP’s plans will never be successful during his stay.

    “The Modi government at the Center has done the work of dividing the people in the country, but the Bharat Jodo Yatra of Rahul Gandhi will unite the country in a strong thread of unity. The BJP is frustrated by the huge public support for Rahul Gandhi’s Yatra,” claimed Gehlot.

    Sources claim that CM Gehlot has offered to resign during his meeting with Sonia Gandhi and some say that AICC observers may be sent soon to Jaipur again to search for a new Chief Minister in place of Gehlot. In case there is a consensus on the name of the new chief minister, Gehlot may be asked to submit his resignation to the governor. 

    Gehlot’s attempts to save his Chief ministerial chair are still going on . However, his inclusion among the proposers for Mallikarjun Kharge, considered to be the candidate of the Gandhi family for the post of National President, is being seen as a sign that Gehlot may be pardoned for the revolt by MLAS last Sunday.

    For the time being, CM Gehlot’s statements and body language seem to be much better than what was obvious after his meeting with Sonia Gandhi in Delhi on 29 September. After his public apology, it seems the crisis of the Congress in Rajasthan has subsided at the moment and the CM may continue in his post for some time.

    Experts believe that the change may not happen suddenly as the Congress leadership is not in a position to do much in Rajasthan or impose their will on Ashok Gehlot very easily at the moment. If Congress’s high command forcefully changes the leadership, without Gehlot’s consent, it may become difficult to save the government in the state.

    And after going to Delhi and submitting his apology, he has got time for himself. Secondly, he will remain in the post till the high command is in a position to locate his replacement in the state. Due to the opposition of the MLAs against Sachin Pilot, if a third person is made CM, then the purpose of the Congress High Command does not get solved. Also, it may not even guarantee that the ruling Congress will be able to run the government in the election year. 

    So while the Gandhi family may not want to see Gehlot on the CM’s chair for long, they do not have any easy options – and all this may help CM Gehlot to continue for a while.

    JAIPUR: While there is much doubt on whether he will continue as Chief Minister, Ashok Gehlot is making every effort to project that ‘All Is Well ‘ and things are quite normal in Rajasthan. After returning from Delhi, he was in Bikaner Division on Saturday for events connected to rural Olympics in the state.

    Meanwhile, the verbal war between the Gehlot and Sachin Pilot factions has also subsided in the past two days after the AICC issued a stern advisory. Both camps are now following a ‘wait and watch’ policy and waiting for the next move of the High Command.

    In the midst of the political turmoil in Congress since the storm last Sunday, discussions on a change of leadership in the state are continuing in full swing. In this era of crisis, the Chief Minister’s visit to Bikaner is in the discussion.

    CM Gehlot on his tour of the Bikaner division looked confident and said that the Congress government will complete its full tenure of five years, and “the last budget of the government will be completely dedicated to the youth.”

    Last Sunday, the CLP meeting called for the selection of a new Chief Minister who was boycotted by MLAs supporting Gehlot.  Among the three conditions that were put in front of the observers sent by AICC, they also included the condition that CM Gehlot should not be changed till the next budget. Due to these conditions, the observers sent by the AICC had to be returned.

    After apologising to Sonia Gandhi in Delhi on Thursday, CM Gehlot participated in rural Olympics in Bikaner, Hanumangarh and Ganganagar districts on Saturday. During this trip, ministers BD Kalla, Bhanwar Singh Bhati and Lalchand Kataria were present with the CM.

    With CM Gehlot out of the race for the next National President of Congress, he reiterated that he will never be far from Rajasthan. He asserted that he hails from the Marwar region of Rajasthan and is not going anywhere from here. To express his rising confidence, CM Gehlot has also restarted his attacks on BJP which he has been doing even before Sunday’s incident. He also accused the BJP of trying to topple his government through horse-trading and praised Rahul Gandhi. CM Gehlot also said that BJP’s plans will never be successful during his stay.

    “The Modi government at the Center has done the work of dividing the people in the country, but the Bharat Jodo Yatra of Rahul Gandhi will unite the country in a strong thread of unity. The BJP is frustrated by the huge public support for Rahul Gandhi’s Yatra,” claimed Gehlot.

    Sources claim that CM Gehlot has offered to resign during his meeting with Sonia Gandhi and some say that AICC observers may be sent soon to Jaipur again to search for a new Chief Minister in place of Gehlot. In case there is a consensus on the name of the new chief minister, Gehlot may be asked to submit his resignation to the governor. 

    Gehlot’s attempts to save his Chief ministerial chair are still going on . However, his inclusion among the proposers for Mallikarjun Kharge, considered to be the candidate of the Gandhi family for the post of National President, is being seen as a sign that Gehlot may be pardoned for the revolt by MLAS last Sunday.

    For the time being, CM Gehlot’s statements and body language seem to be much better than what was obvious after his meeting with Sonia Gandhi in Delhi on 29 September. After his public apology, it seems the crisis of the Congress in Rajasthan has subsided at the moment and the CM may continue in his post for some time.

    Experts believe that the change may not happen suddenly as the Congress leadership is not in a position to do much in Rajasthan or impose their will on Ashok Gehlot very easily at the moment. If Congress’s high command forcefully changes the leadership, without Gehlot’s consent, it may become difficult to save the government in the state.

    And after going to Delhi and submitting his apology, he has got time for himself. Secondly, he will remain in the post till the high command is in a position to locate his replacement in the state. Due to the opposition of the MLAs against Sachin Pilot, if a third person is made CM, then the purpose of the Congress High Command does not get solved. Also, it may not even guarantee that the ruling Congress will be able to run the government in the election year. 

    So while the Gandhi family may not want to see Gehlot on the CM’s chair for long, they do not have any easy options – and all this may help CM Gehlot to continue for a while.

  • Rajya Sabha polls: Independent MLAs meet Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot, Congress candidates

    By PTI

    JAIPUR: Ten of 13 independent MLAs in Rajasthan met Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and Congress candidates for the Rajya Sabha elections here on Tuesday night.

    Discussions about the Rajya Sabha elections to be held on June 10 took place in the meeting, party sources said.

    State Congress chief Govind Singh Dotasra and party candidates Mukul Wasnik, Pramod Tiwari and Randeep Singh Surjewal were present on the occasion.

    The elections to four seats of the Rajya Sabha in Rajasthan will take place on June 10.

    The Congress has fielded three candidates and the BJP one.

    Backed by the BJP, media baron Subhash Chandra filed his nomination for the elections to the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday, a move that could scuttle the Congress chances of winning a third seat from Rajasthan.

    Essel Group chairman Chandra is currently a Rajya Sabha member from Haryana and his term is going to expire on August 1.

    The filing of papers by him as an independent prompted Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot to allege that the BJP wants to indulge in horse trading.

    The ruling Congress in Rajasthan with its 108 MLAs in the state Assembly is set to win two of the four seats going to the elections.

    After winning two seats, the Congress will have 26 surplus votes, 15 short of the required 41 to win the third seat.

    On the other hand, the BJP has 71 MLAs in the state Assembly and set to win one seat, after which it will be left with 30 surplus votes.

    The Congress is expecting support of independent MLAs and legislators of other parties to win the third seat.

  • BJP won assembly polls by polarising votes: Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot

    By PTI

    JAIPUR: Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Saturday accused the BJP of winning the assembly elections in four states by polarising votes and making clever statements.

    Addressing a gathering at Gandhi Circle here after participating in a peace march on the 92nd anniversary of the Dandi March, Gehlot also said the people need to maintain harmony in today’s atmosphere of tension in the country.

    Hitting out at the BJP after the peace march on Jawahar Lal Nehru Road, Gehlot said, “They won elections by giving statements cleverly in the name of Hindutva and polarisation.”

    “The situation is serious in the whole country, in states. Everyone knows how was the management of the corona pandemic in UP. Such questions are left behind because they speak cleverly,” he said.

    “In the atmosphere of tension in our country today, we need to maintain harmony by following the path of truth, non-violence and peace as shown by Mahatma Gandhi,” he said.

    Gehlot hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying the way he delivers “tactful” speeches, people believe his words as they feel that stated by the country’s PM, they must be true.

    Reacting to allegations that Congress was defaming central agencies, Gehlot said the whole country is watching what is happening in the judiciary, Income Tax department besides ED and CBI.

    “The Prime Minister accuses the opposition of defaming the agencies. The whole country is watching what is happening in the country. What is happening in the judiciary, Income Tax department, ED and CBI? The world is watching how raids are being conducted inside the country, everyone knows on one side that they are defaming the opposition about that too,” he said.

    The chief minister asserted that the truth will win ultimately.

    “We will have to reach out to the people to tell them the truth, only then BJP people will be exposed and the truth will come out. We will bring the truth by following the path of Mahatma Gandhi,” he said.

    “His message of non-violence becomes more relevant in the current situation of unrest in Ukraine today,” he said.

    Earlier, Gehlot also offered flowers to the statue of Mahatma Gandhi.

    Along with the Chief Minister, several ministers, MLAs and other public representatives attended the programme.

    Gehlot also said the media is under pressure and supports them (BJP).

  • REET paper leak: Guilty won’t be spared, says Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot

    By PTI

    JAIPUR: Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Tuesday said those involved in the REET paper leak case won’t be spared and he accused the opposition of instigating the youth over the issue.

    “The SOG is doing its work impartially that is why the accused are being caught and new revelations are being made every day,” Gehlot said in a tweet.

    He alleged that the opposition is demanding a CBI inquiry into the case so that the state government could be defamed.

    It is not in the interest of the youth and the government will get all the culprits punished, no matter how influential they are, the CM said.

    “I had said earlier also that the easiest thing for the government to do is to cancel the exam and get it re-conducted. In the interest of the youth, the government gave a free hand to the SOG,” he said.

    He said to the satisfaction of lakhs of candidates, the state government has decided to cancel the REET Level-2 exam and re-conduct it by increasing 30,000 posts.

    The CM said, “The BJP, which has been repeatedly demanding a CBI inquiry on every case, should tell the results of the investigations given to the CBI in the last three years,” he said, citing some of such cases.

  • Ready to get intellectually-challenged girl’s case probed by any agency as per family’s wish: Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot

    Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said that an investigation was underway to find out the cause of the girl's injuries.

  • Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot meets industrialists Ashok Hinduja​, Prakash Hinduja; discusses investment

    By PTI

    JAIPUR: Industrialists Ashok Hinduja and Prakash Hinduja called on Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot here on Monday.

    “They discussed about existing investment of the group in the state and further investments in the areas of renewable energy, transport and other sectors,” Gehlot tweeted.

    Shri Ashok Hinduja and Shri Prakash Hinduja of Hinduja Group met me today. They discussed about existing investment of the group in the state and further investments in the areas of renewable energy, transport & other sectors. pic.twitter.com/LLDbi3zhqk
    — Ashok Gehlot (@ashokgehlot51) December 20, 2021
    The meeting took place at the chief minister’s residence in the morning.

  • Work has to be done with dedication to maintain people’s trust in Congress government: Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot

    By PTI

    JAIPUR: Congratulating the MLAs who are going to take oath as ministers, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Sunday said that work has to be done with dedication to maintain the trust of the people in the Congress government.

    Fifteen ministers- 11 cabinet and four ministers of state (MoS)- will take oath at the Raj Bhawan at 4 pm on Sunday.

    The 11 cabinet ministers include three who have been elevated from MoS to cabinet rank.

    Gehlot said that his government in the last 35 months has worked to deliver transparent, sensible and good governance and had taken the state forward on the path of development, despite adverse circumstances.

    “The people have endorsed the good governance of our government by making the Congress win in the assembly bye-elections and local bodies elections held during our tenure. We all have to maintain this trust of the public in the times to come. For this, work has to be continued with full hard work and dedication,” he tweeted.

    He said that the Congress will work on the agenda of development and expressed confidence that the party will win the 2023 assembly elections.

  • Gehlot to hold last meeting of his current council of ministers today evening: Sources

    The sources said the Cabinet meeting has been called ahead of the proposed Cabinet reshuffle and ministers are likely to resign.

  • Symbolic reduction in excise duty on petrol, diesel will not bring down inflation: Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot

    By PTI

    JAIPUR: Saying that a “symbolic” reduction of Rs 5 and Rs 10 per litre in the excise duty on petrol and diesel will not bring down inflation, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Sunday said the Centre should promise to the country that the fuel prices will not be increased in this way in the future.

    He also claimed that people know that after the Assembly polls in five states, the prices will start increasing again.

    The Centre recently reduced the central excise duty by Rs 5 and Rs 10 per litre on the prices of petrol and diesel respectively.

    Subsequently, several states cut the Value-Added Tax (VAT) on fuel rates.

    The Congress government in Rajasthan is yet to announce a VAT reduction in the prices of petrol and diesel and is facing flak from the opposition BJP over the issue.

    Gehlot said he will hold discussions about reducing the VAT on petrol and diesel in the state at a cabinet meeting on Tuesday and an appropriate decision will be taken.

    “We will decide whatever is possible,” he said.

    The senior Congress leader said it is for the first time after independence that the country is facing such high inflation.

    Blaming the policies of the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre for this, he said the prices of petrol, diesel and LPG cylinders kept on increasing continuously and then Rs 5 and Rs 10 per litre were reduced on the petrol and diesel rates, which is insufficient to curb the inflation.

    “Our demand is that you (Centre) make a promise to the country that the rates will not be increased in this way in the future, only then the inflation will start coming down,” Gehlot told reporters here.

    He said inflation is a big issue in the country and every household is affected.

    “Be it the middle class or the poor, living has become difficult. It has become difficult for women to run the kitchen,” the chief minister said, adding that the top priority of the NDA government should be to curb the inflation.

    Gehlot was at the Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) office to pay tributes to former prime minister Jawahar Lal Nehru on his birth anniversary.

    He also launched the “Jan Jagran Saptah” (public awareness week), under which various activities including foot marches will be conducted across the state on the issue of inflation, on a call given by Congress president Sonia Gandhi and party leader Rahul Gandhi.