Jaipur: Veteran Congress leader Ashok Gehlot was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Rajasthan at Jaipur’s Albert Hall on Monday. Sachin Pilot also took charge as the deputy Chief Minister of the state, reported ANI.
On the occasion, former chief minister Vasundhara Raje was also present. From Delhi, Congress President Rahul Gandhi and former prime minister Manmohan Singh had also arrived to attend the ceremony.
People began gathering outside Pilot’s residence from early morning. Earlier, what put a spanner in the celebrations was the news that senior politicians from Uttar Pradesh, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and Bahujan Samaj Party President Mayawati were giving the event, as also those planned for Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh later in the day, a skip.
Earlier, Gehlot was quoted as saying that Raje was “careless” in fulfilling people’s expectations despite a huge mandate in the last elections.
Holding her responsible for the financial condition of the state, Gehlot said she could have done more work if she wanted.
“What is the financial condition of the state is known by all. The BJP got a huge mandate in the last elections and people had expectations from Raje, but she was careless and passed five years in carelessness,” Gehlot told reporters on Sunday at Albert Hall where he reviewed the preparations for the oath-taking ceremony.
“We were not responsible for her differences with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah, she should have resolved the issues with them,” he said. On December 11, the Congress emerged as the single largest party by winning 99 out of 199 seats in Rajasthan. One short of an absolute majority, the party was extended support by Ajit Singh and Mayawati also said the BSP would extend support, if need be.
