Rajasthan Cabinet expanded: 15 ministers sworn in

Jaipur: Fifteen ministers 11 cabinet and four ministers of state were sworn in on Sunday in Rajasthan, in a much-awaited expansion of the Ashok Gehlot ministry. Governor Kalraj Mishra administered the oath of office to the new ministers.

The number in the council of ministers in the the state has reached 30. The Rajasthan Cabinet can have a maximum of 30 ministers, including the chief minister.

The Governor administered the oath of office and secrecy to Hemaram Choudhary first who had resigned from the post of MLA in May accusing the government of neglecting his constituency.

The 11 cabinet ministers include three Mamta Bhupesh, Bhajan Lal Jatav and Tikaram Jully– who have been elevated from minister of state (MoS) to cabinet rank, while two — Vishvendra Singh and Ramesh Meena — are those who were sacked last year for rebelling and have been reinducted as cabinet ministers.

The list of cabinet ministers is: Hemaram Chaudhary, Mahendrajit Singh Malviya, Mahesh Joshi, Vishvendra Singh, Ramlal Jat, Ramesh Meena, Mamta Bhupesh Bairwa, Bhajanlal Jatav, Tikaram Julie, Govind Ram Meghwal and Shakuntala Rawat.

Those who became ministers of state are: Zahida Khan, Brijendra Singh Ola, Rajendra Gudha and Murarilal Meena.

"We have tried to give representation to all communities -- SC, ST, OBC and minorities in the new Cabinet. We will try to adjust the maximum number of MLAs in different boards and corporations or make them parliament secretaries," Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot was quoted as saying by ANI.

Earlier, addressing the Congress MLAs at the PCC, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said that the role of those who could not be accommodated is no less important.

"The left outs will be adjusted. This time, we will repeat the government in the state as entire Congress stands united. Congressmen will remain united," the Rajasthan CM said.