Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma on Friday allocated portfolios to his newly sworn-in cabinet of 22 ministers, following a high-stakes announcement that took place just hours before Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Jaipur for a meeting with BJP MLAs. The portfolio assignments come 12 days after the ministers took the oath of office on December 25, in a ceremony presided over by Governor Kalraj Mishra.
Among the key decisions, Bhajanlal Sharma has retained several critical departments for himself, including Home, Personnel, Excise, General Administration, and the Anti-Corruption Bureau. These departments are widely considered to be power centers within the state government and reflect Sharma’s strategic approach in maintaining direct control over key areas of governance.
Key Appointments for Deputy Chief Ministers
The two Deputy Chief Ministers (DCMs), Diya Kumari and Prem Chand Bairwa, have been entrusted with significant portfolios that underscore their importance within the new government.
- Diya Kumari, who holds the distinction of being a prominent political figure in Rajasthan, has been assigned six high-profile departments. These include Finance, Tourism, Women & Child Welfare, and Public Works Department (PWD). This is a notable shift, as for the last several years, Rajasthan’s Finance Department had traditionally been controlled directly by the Chief Minister, with the last cabinet minister to hold the portfolio being Pradhyumn Singh during Ashok Gehlot’s first term as CM (1998–2003).
- Prem Chand Bairwa, the second Deputy CM, will head Technical Education, Higher Education, and Road & Transport. Bairwa’s selection for these portfolios reflects the government’s emphasis on both education and infrastructure development.
Key Ministerial Appointments
- Madan Dilawar, known for his outspoken political views, has been appointed to oversee School Education, Panchayati Raj, and Sanskrit Education. His stronghold over education and local governance is expected to make a significant impact in these vital sectors.
- Rajyavardhan Rathore, a former Union Minister and prominent BJP leader, has received the responsibility of handling Industries and Commerce, Information Technology and Communication, Youth Affairs and Sports, Skill Development, and Sainik Kalyan. Rathore, holding the third-largest number of portfolios in this cabinet, will be key in driving economic and youth development initiatives in the state.
- Kirori Lal Meena, a six-time MLA, will return to the post of Disaster Management, a department he previously managed two decades ago. Meena will also take charge of Agriculture and Rural Development, areas in which he has expressed deep interest.
- Surendra Pal Singh TT, the BJP candidate from Karanpur constituency, has been rewarded with the charge of Agriculture Marketing, Irrigation, Indira Gandhi Canal, and Minorities Affairs. These assignments come just days after he secured a key electoral win in his constituency, marking a significant milestone in his political career.
- Jabar Singh Kharra, a two-time MLA, has been appointed as a junior minister with independent charge of the Urban Development and Housing (UDH) ministry, further strengthening the government’s focus on urban planning and infrastructure development.
Ministerial Composition and Cabinet Dynamics
This new cabinet consists of 12 cabinet ministers, 5 junior ministers with independent charge, and 5 junior ministers. With these appointments, CM Bhajanlal Sharma has aimed to balance political representation while also ensuring the governance of essential departments crucial for Rajasthan’s development. The portfolio distribution reflects the BJP’s focus on key areas like finance, education, infrastructure, and disaster management, all of which are critical to shaping the state’s future growth.
As the new ministers take charge of their respective portfolios, political observers will closely monitor how the government’s priorities unfold, especially in sectors like education, agriculture, infrastructure, and public welfare. With a dynamic and diverse cabinet, Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma is poised to make significant strides in managing the state’s governance and development priorities.
