Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot reshuffled his three-year-old Cabinet while inducting six new ministers and dropped five “tainted” faces from his council of ministers. Governor Shivraj Patil administered oath to the new
ministers at Raj Bhavan on Wednesday evening. Mr Gehlot, however, said it was due for a long time and if needed in future, it could be further revamped. He denied any resentment among the MLAs.
Mr Gehlot promoted new faces and one of them, Ashok Bairwa, has been deputed as Cabinet minister. A dalit leader from Swai Madhopur, Mr Bairwa was serving as minister of state. In his new Cabinet, Virendra Beniwal, Amin Khan and Dayaram Parmar have been made ministers of state with independent charge. Mr Beniwal emerged as a Jat leader in the new team while Mr Parmar has been promoted as tribal leader from south Rajasthan.
Mr Khan, who had lost his position after his remarks about President Patil, has been again deputed as minister of state. Mr Khan comes from the border district of Barmer and represents the Sindhi Muslim community whose number is sizeable in the four border districts of the state. He called on the President two months back and tendered his apology for his remarks.
The CM made seven new parliamentary secretaries, including Meo leader Zahida Khan, who represents Kaman constituency under Bharatpur district.
Violence-hit Gopalgarh falls under her constituency.