No differences remain, Raj Cabinet rejig soon: Maken

AFTER PUNJAB, CONG LEADERSHIP FOCUSES ON RAJASTHAN UNIT TO ADDRESS CONCERNS OF THE PILOT CAMP

JAIPUR: After a public resolution to the turmoil in its Punjab unit, the Congress appears to have shifted its focus to Rajasthan.

Central Congress leaders, tasked with addressing the concerns raised by former deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot and his supporters last year, held a meeting with state party leaders in Jaipur on Sunday, and said they have reached a consensus on the issue of state cabinet expansion but the final decision will be taken by the party high command in Delhi.

The meeting, called by the state party chief Govind Singh Dotasra, was attended by 26 legislators, 12 ministers and 28 party office-bearers, according to a state Congress leader who asked not to be named. Among them was Pilot and nine legislators who back him, the person cited above added.

Congress general secretary Ajay Maken, who is in charge of Rajasthan for the party, presented a unified front after Sunday’s meeting. “I can say that there is no disagreement or contradiction among the party leaders and they all have left the final decision about the cabinet expansion to the party high command,” he told reporters, adding that the decision of the Delhi leadership will be accepted by all.

He did not give a timeline for the cabinet expansion, one of the key demands of the Pilot camp, but party functionaries aware of the matter said the announcement may be made next month.