New Delhi: Fifteen ministers, including 11 cabinet and four ministers of state (MoS), 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 11 cabinet ministers include three Mamta Bhupesh, Bhajan Lal Jatav and Tikaram Jully – who have been elevated from MoS  to cabinet rank, while two – Vishvendra Singh and Ramesh Meena – are those who were sacked last year for rebelling and have been re-inducted as cabinet ministers.

Hemaram Choudhary, Mahendrajeet Singh Malviya, Ramlal Jat, Mahesh Joshi, Govindram Meghwal and Shakuntla Rawat were also sworn in as cabinet ministers.

Zahida, Brijendra Singh Ola, Rajendra Gudha and Murari Lal Meena were sworn in as MoS.

The council of ministers in Rajasthan now has 19 cabinet ministers and 10 MoS, apart from the chief minister.

Chief minister Gehlot and members of his council of ministers were among those present at the function.

Also read: By-Polls: Yet Again, Ashok Gehlot Bounces Back When Detractors Said Tide Was Turning

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.

Chief minister Ashok Gehlot tweeted stating that the Rajasthan Congress will again form the government in 2023.

According to the Indian Express, Rajasthan Congress chief Govind Singh Dotasra said that the cabinet reshuffle in the Gehlot government has fulfilled the expectations of all and there is no resentment within the party.

Earlier, ahead of the Cabinet reshuffle announcement, according to NDTV, Pilot said, "The step [of increasing representation of Dalits] – taken by the party and the leadership after discussions – is sending a positive message across the state. We had raised this issue time and again. I'm happy that party, high command, and the state government took note of it."

Saying that the Congress is functioning under leadership of Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi, he added, "There are no factions in the party. The decisions (of cabinet reshuffle) have been taken together."

(With inputs from PTI)

This story was published on November 21, 2021 at 11:40 am, and republished at 5:10 pm with updates on the cabinet reshuffle in Rajasthan.

The Wire is now on WhatsApp. Follow our channel for sharp analysis and opinions on the latest developments.