By IANS,
Jaipur : Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot expanded his cabinet Saturday by inducting 10 new ministers. The strength of the Gehlot ministry now stands at 23, which includes 13 cabinet and 10 state ministers.
As per constitutional provisions, a maximum of 30 members – or 15 percent of te strength of the house – can be accommodated in the state council of ministers as Rajasthan’s assembly has 200 seats.
The new ministers were sworn-in by Governor S.K. Singh at a function in Raj Bhavan here Saturday morning.
Jitendra Singh and Rajendra Pareek were sworn-in as cabinet rank ministers while Ram Lal Jat, Bharosilal Jatav, Ashok Bairwa, Mangilal Gharasia, Pramod Jain Bhaya, Babulal Nagar, Amin Khan and Gurmeet Singh Kunnar were inducted as ministers of state.
Except Singh who was a cabinet minister in the previous Gehlot government, all the other nine are new faces. Keeping an eye on the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls, Gehlot has tried to give representation to almost all communities in his cabinet.
Gehlot had taken the oath of office and secrecy Dec 13 to lead a minority Congress government in the state. The Congress falling short of majority in the recently held state assembly elections had bagged 96 out of 200 seats.
On Dec 19, 11 cabinet and two ministers of state were inducted. Four out of these 13 ministers were independents who are supporting the Congress.