Jaipur: Cabinet expansion and political appointments in Rajasthan, including those of chairpersons to various boards and commissions, are solely the prerogative of Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, BJP’s state in-charge, Radha Mohan Das Agrawal said Saturday. Agrawal’s remarks came during a key strategy meeting in Jaipur, where the party discussed the pending cabinet expansion, political appointments, and preparations for the upcoming urban and rural body elections. Agrawal’s assertion came on the heels of former chief minister Ashok Gehlot’s allegation of an internal conspiracy underway in the BJP to unseat Sharma. It was said in response to growing speculation and internal lobbying, with several senior leaders, including former CM Vasundhara Raje, former state president Satish Poonia, and LoP Rajendra Rathore, reportedly pushing for their loyalists to be accommodated.He reiterated that CM Sharma enjoys the full confidence of the party high command and is solely responsible for taking decisions related to cabinet expansion and political appointments. “CM Sharma is well aware of the expectations and is fully capable of taking a call on these matters. He comes from within the party, is a karyakarta first and Chief Minister second. He is deeply connected with grassroots workers and is well informed about their capabilities. It’s not our place to advise him,” Agrawal said while addressing a party meeting in Jaipur.His comments come amid continued speculation around a possible cabinet reshuffle and internal lobbying for political appointments. In the 200-member Assembly, the govt can appoint up to 30 ministers. Currently, 24 positions are filled, including Sharma and deputy CMs Diya Kumari and Premchand Bairwa.Agrawal said there is no question of leadership change in Rajasthan. “Bhajan Lal Sharma was appointed CM for a full five-year term. Changing CMs mid-way is a Congress tradition, not ours,” he said. “Anyone raising objections internally will be dealt with under party discipline. BJP has no space for dissidence,” he added in response to former CM Ashok Gehlot’s recent claims of internal BJP conspiracies.Taking a sharp swipe at Gehlot, Agrawal remarked, “He spent his entire tenure saving his chair from his own party, especially Sachin Pilot. There was no stability in his govt. Even today, Gehlot sees conspiracies everywhere, because that’s the political culture he comes from. BJP does not entertain or indulge in such politics.”
