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Parliamentary secys’ rebellion stumps Gehlot
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot is in a tight spot over resignations of his three parliamentary secretaries, which they tendered to protest against not being made Ministers when he expanded his Cabinet. All three are former MLAs of the BSP.
In the Assembly elections, the BSP had won six seats. However, within three months of the elections, all of them decided to merge the legislator party in the Congress, which was five short of a clear majority in the 200-strong Assembly.
Later, three were made Ministers and the remaining were accommodated as parliamentary secretaries. These three were expecting to be promoted as Ministers. When this did not happen, all of them sent their resignations to Gehlot. They also boycotted the swearing ceremony at Raj Bhavan.
One of them, Ramesh Meena, has already returned his official car and is not attending his office since then.
Gehlot is worrying as the State BSP had already challenged the merger of party’s legislative wing with Congress and matter is pending with speaker Deepender Singh Shekhawat. If these former BSP members decide to revoke the merger, this would create problem for Gehlot, who would be needing the support of more independents for survival of his Government.
All of these MLAs, including those who are minister, met on Sunday to discuss the issue. Ramesh Meena told The Pioneer that since they are not enjoying any authority in the government, there was no point in continuing on the post.” We would wait for a week, before deciding our next course of actions,” he said.
On Thursday, Gehlot made seven more parliamentary secretaries, taking their total number to 13. A parliamentary secretary gets about Rs25000 as monthly salary, besides official car and some other facilities. But constitutionally, they have no status. According to a ruling given by then speaker Sumitra Singh, in 2008, parliamentary secretaries are to assist the ministers, but they could not reply questions or debates in the assembly on behalf of the ministers.
Meanwhile Gehlot has started the political appointments. Jagdeep Dhankar, former secretary of Rajasthan Pradesh Committee, has been appointed as Chairman of Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation. Ladkumar Jain, Professor of Social Science in University of Rajasthan would be Chairperson of State Women Commission Divya Singh, wife of Vishwender Singh, scion of former Bharatpur royal family and Habib Khan Gouran, a promoted IPS officers and presently serving as SP, Bikaner, have made members of Rajasthan Public Service Commission.
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot is in a tight spot over resignations of his three parliamentary secretaries, which they tendered to protest against not being made Ministers when he expanded his Cabinet. All three are former MLAs of the BSP.
In the Assembly elections, the BSP had won six seats. However, within three months of the elections, all of them decided to merge the legislator party in the Congress, which was five short of a clear majority in the 200-strong Assembly.
Later, three were made Ministers and the remaining were accommodated as parliamentary secretaries. These three were expecting to be promoted as Ministers. When this did not happen, all of them sent their resignations to Gehlot. They also boycotted the swearing ceremony at Raj Bhavan.
One of them, Ramesh Meena, has already returned his official car and is not attending his office since then.
Gehlot is worrying as the State BSP had already challenged the merger of party’s legislative wing with Congress and matter is pending with speaker Deepender Singh Shekhawat. If these former BSP members decide to revoke the merger, this would create problem for Gehlot, who would be needing the support of more independents for survival of his Government.
All of these MLAs, including those who are minister, met on Sunday to discuss the issue. Ramesh Meena told The Pioneer that since they are not enjoying any authority in the government, there was no point in continuing on the post.” We would wait for a week, before deciding our next course of actions,” he said.
On Thursday, Gehlot made seven more parliamentary secretaries, taking their total number to 13. A parliamentary secretary gets about Rs25000 as monthly salary, besides official car and some other facilities. But constitutionally, they have no status. According to a ruling given by then speaker Sumitra Singh, in 2008, parliamentary secretaries are to assist the ministers, but they could not reply questions or debates in the assembly on behalf of the ministers.
Meanwhile Gehlot has started the political appointments. Jagdeep Dhankar, former secretary of Rajasthan Pradesh Committee, has been appointed as Chairman of Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation. Ladkumar Jain, Professor of Social Science in University of Rajasthan would be Chairperson of State Women Commission Divya Singh, wife of Vishwender Singh, scion of former Bharatpur royal family and Habib Khan Gouran, a promoted IPS officers and presently serving as SP, Bikaner, have made members of Rajasthan Public Service Commission.
