LS poll role to be key for getting cabinet berths, political postings
RAJASTHAN HAS A 200MEMBER ASSEMBLY, SO THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS CAN CONSIST OF 30 MEMBERS
JAIPUR: Rajasthan Congress leaders will get a chance for inclusion in the state cabinet if their performance in this year’s Lok Sabha elections helps the party put up better results, a senior leader said.
The state cabinet with 25 members, including the chief minister, can accommodate five more, according to norms. The Constitution says the total number of ministers, including the chief minister, in a state shall not exceed 15% of the legislators. Rajasthan has a 200-member assembly, so the council of ministers can consist of 30 members.
The central leadership has also directed that party workers be considered f or political appointments at district and tehsil levels considering their performance in the Lok Sabha polls, the senior leader said on condi- tion of anonymity.
Apart from around 60 boards, commissions and corporations in the state in which leaders can be appointed for top positions, workers can be accommodated in over 50,000 posts at district and tehsil levels; the workers can be appointed in 20-point programme implementation and district supply committees, among others.
“Party president Rahul Gandhi has conveyed to AICC general secretary in charge of Rajasthan, secretaries, CM and state Congress president to ensure accommodation in the cabinet and appointments to political posts to those who perform well and bring results in the Lok Sabha elections,” the senior leader said.
Rajasthan has 25 Lok Sabha seats. In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP won all of them. With the recent victory in the assembly elections, Congress is more confident of facing the general elections four months away. In the by-elections held last year, the Congress wrested the Alwar and Ajmer Lok Sabha seats and the Mandalgarh assembly constituency from the BJP.
Senior leaders and even active workers can be appointed as chairpersons and vice chairpersons of the finance commission, 20-point programme implementation committee, minority commission, Youth Board, Waqf Board, Women’s Commission, Kisan Commission and so on, the leader said.
He said the state Congress leadership has asked district presidents to identify workers who are active and enhance the party’s prospects. “The working of leaders, including MLAS, and workers will be watched and assessing their output, they will be accommodated in the government and posts at various levels,” he said.
While efforts are being made to strengthen the party organisation and programmes lined up for this year’s LS polls, the central and state leadership of the Congress will keep a watch on performers. “The objective of the exercise is to ensure that genuine workers and leaders are appreciated and encouraged with such appointments,”
Ashok Gehlot in his capacity as the AICC general secretary (organisation) had earlier said, “Everyone cannot get election tickets but those who fail to be picked as candidates will be looked after by the party and that is Rahul Gandhi’s thought.”