Assembly Elections 2018: Congress Chief Ministers to Discuss Cabinet With Party Chief Rahul Gandhi

Rajasthan could be tricky with Gehlot and Pilot not agreeing on names, said sources.

New Delhi: The states of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh are likely to get their Cabinets after a meeting with Congress president Rahul Gandhi in Delhi on Friday. The Chief Ministers of these states are in Delhi to meet Rahul. (Also read: ‘Won’t Let PM Modi Sleep Peacefully Till Farm Loans Waived,’ Says Rahul)

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and MP CM Kamal Nath are already in Delhi with their list of probable ministers. However, Cabinet formation in Rajasthan is likely to be a tricky affair with Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot reportedly keen on reappointing ministers of his previous Cabinet while his deputy, Sachin Pilot, is bent on inducting youth. So party chief Rahul Gandhi might have to intervene.

Karnataka Congress Legislature Party leader Siddaramaiah would also be in Delhi the same day to discuss Cabinet reshuffle with his party chief, said reports. There has been intense lobbying for Cabinet berths in the state government. According to sources, the Janata Dal (S)-Congress coalition government could go for a reshuffle of ministerial portfolios besides Cabinet expansion.

Some Ministers, including seniors, are set to be dropped in order to accommodate new faces, sources said. “Two senior leaders, one from north Karnataka and the other from the south, could be asked to step down as the party is expected to field them in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls,” a source said.