No Cabinet expansion during Budget session, says Maken
Cong’s state in charge said district-level appointments will be done in the first fortnight of February
JAIPUR: Putting an end to the speculations over cabinet expansion in Rajasthan, AICC general secretary and state in-charge, Ajay Maken said the expansion will not happen during the budget session, which is starting from February 10.
He also announced that the much-awaited district-level political appointments will be made in the first fortnight of February.
Maken held rounds of discussions with the CM, state party chief, senior leaders, and state office bearers during his visit. “The discussions were held on bypolls, and how the political appointments be made with the CM. Also on cabinet reshuffle as there are vacancies,” he said addressing the newspersons.
When asked when it will happen, he said, “The budget session is called, and expansion and shuffle is never done during the session – it has never happened, then why now.”
On upcoming by-polls, he said at the CM’S residence discussions with the observers and in-charge ministers of the four assembly constituencies going for by-polls were held.
He continued that similar discussions were held with the newly appointed state executive, and that with the district incharge, where the bypolls will take place.
With the demise of BJP MLA from Rajsamand Kiran Maheshwari, Congress MLAS Bhanwar Lal Meghwal (Sujangarh), Kailash Trivedi (Sarada) and Gajendra
Singh Shaktawat (Vallabnagar) – bypolls are likely to be held next month.
Maken said the office bearers are given a parforma – they are asked to visit assigned districts and meet local leaders, and discuss names for district-level political appointments. They will be submitting the names by February 8 or 9. “Our efforts are that appointments on boards and corporations at the district level, which are around 25,000-30,000 is completed in the first fortnight of February,” he said.
On the recent civic poll results of 90 local bodies, he said, “I am happy with the results as Congress is ahead of BJP at 48 local bodies. This shows that Congress popularity is increasing and people are resented with BJP. He added that the feedback received is encouraging and Congress will win all four bypolls.”
Meanwhile, a senior leader on the condition of anonymity said that workers are tired of hearing dates again and again.
The leadership initially announced December 31, then January 31, and now February fortnight, he said.
JAIPUR: As part of military to military exchange programmes, US Army troops will be arriving in India on February 5 for the 16th edition of exercise Yudh Abhyas with Indian Army troops.
The bilateral training exercise will begin the same day at Foreign Training Node at Mahajan Field Firing Ranges, Defence spokesperson Lt Colonel Amitabh Sharma said.
11th Battalion of the Jammu and Kashmir Rifles, part of the Sapta Shakti Command, will represent Indian Army in this bilateral exercise. The US Army delegation will be represented by troops of 2nd Battalion of the 3rd Infantry Regiment of 1-2 Stryker Brigade Combat Team, along with respective Brigade Headquarters.
Sharma said that the joint exercise would focus on counter terrorism operations under the United Nations mandate.
The training will focus primarily on subject matter exchange of topical issues of contemporary significance, drills at tactical level and best practices of each other. The exercise aims at enhancing cooperation and interoperability between two armies.
Exercise Yudh Abhyas is significant in terms of security challenges faced by both the nations in the backdrop of global terrorism.