With Rahul approval, Chhattisgarh, Raj govts allot portfolios
JAIPUR/RAIPUR: Days after the newly inducted ministers were sworn in all the three states won by the Congress in Assembly elections, the allocation of portfolios in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh has been announced, but the party in Madhya Pradesh is still deliberating over the issue.
Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot took nine departments, including key finance and home. By keeping finance, Gehlot will be eligible to be part of goods and services tax (GST) council.
According to orders issued by the Cabinet Secretariat, deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot has been given the charge of public works, rural development, panchayati raj, science and technology and statistics departments.
The final allocation late on Wednesday was preceded by several rounds of meetings among chief minister Ashok Gehlot, his deputy Sachin Pilot and party president Rahul Gandhi. Gehlot also met senior Congress leaders, Avinash Pande and KC Venugopal, before the three went to meet Gandhi.
Apart from the chief minister and his deputy, 13 cabinet and 10 ministers of state were allocated portfolios by governor Kalyan Singh late on Wednesday night on Gehlot’s advice.
The decision had been pending due to a reported disagreement between Gehlot and Pilot over allocation of key portfolios such as home and finance.
In Chhattisgarh, chief minister Bhupesh Baghel took on six departments including finance, energy and general administration. He too will be now part of the GST council.
Senior leader TS Singhdeo has been given panchayat and gramin vikas, public health and family welfare, medical education, GST and planning and statistics. Tamradhwaj Sahu got public works department, home, jail, tourism and culture.
Sahu and Singhdeo were sworn in as ministers along with chief minister Bhupesh Baghel on December 17.
Much like in 2008 and 2013, the current cabinet has a solitary female minister Anita Bhedia who will take charge of women and child development.