Date:22/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/22/stories/2008122254490500.htm

Other States - Rajasthan

New Rajasthan Assembly session from New Year’s Day

Special Correspondent

Gehlot Govt. cancelling political appointments made by the previous regime

Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot to prove his majority on the floor of the House
Portfolios of the newly inducted Ministers are yet to be allocated

JAIPUR: The first session of the new Rajasthan Assembly – in which Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot is to prove his majority – will begin here on January 1. Governor S.K. Singh approved a recommendation made to him on Sunday to start the session on the New Year’s Day.

The formal announcement for convening the session is yet to be made. According to the official sources here, all the 200 newly-elected MLAs will be administered the oath of office and secrecy after the senior-most member is appointed the pro-tem Speaker.

Mr. Gehlot, who took over as the Chief Minister on December 13, was authorised by the State Cabinet in its first meeting here over the week-end to decide the date of the Assembly’s session. Following the Congress party remaining short of a few seats to achieve the majority score in the Assembly elections, the Governor has given one month’s time to Mr. Gehlot to prove his majority on the floor of the House.

The portfolios to the newly inducted Ministers – who were sworn in on Friday – are yet to be allocated. Mr. Gehlot spent his day in the Chief Minister’s Office on Sunday to complete the exercise.

The Congress-led Government has started cancelling political appointments made during the previous Bharatiya Janata Party regime to the urban local bodies such as the Urban Improvement Trusts, municipal councils, Jaipur and Jodhpur Development Authorities and the Rajasthan Housing Board.

The sources said the similar decision would be taken shortly with regard to the individuals heading various Boards, committees, corporations and Commissions.