NEW DELHI: The three-day celebration marking the completion of one year of chief minister Ashok Gehlot-led government in Rajasthan ended recently with multiple functions across the state.
However, deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot seems unhappy with the treatment meted out to ministries under his departments.
“I would have been happier if the government had also showcased achievements under my ministry during the celebration,” Pilot told ET.
Pilot had put out a series of tweets on Sunday night highlighting the achievements of his departments in the last one year.
“Happy to inform that the work done by the ministries under my charge in Rajasthan, Panchayati Raj & Rural Development, performed exceedingly well over the past year and have been recognized for their performances…The department has been conferred with 11 National awards. Rajasthan has achieved 1st rank under Pradhan Mantri Gramin Aawas Yojna, gram panchayats in Kota, Bhilwara, Jaisalmer, Dungarpur have received national awards for MNREGA,” said Pilot in his social media posts.
The state government had formed a three-member cabinet subcommittee to plan the celebration. The committee was headed by state minister B D Kalla while senior minister Raghu Sharma was its coordinator.
The committee had recommended that celebrations be held from December 17-20 across the state. Several meetings were organised in Jaipur and other districts where the Gehlot government’s work in the last one year was highlighted.
District level exhibitions were also organised with the slogan ‘Varsh Ek Faisle Anek’ (one year many decisions).
However, some of the party leaders complained that it was made into a one-man show where only Gehlot was visible.
“On every poster, it was only the chief minister and not even the central leadership of the party,” said a state government minister on condition of anonymity. “We can’t even publicise the work done under my ministry through newspaper ads as everything is controlled by the CM’s office.”
According to the minister, no ministry is allowed to publish a newspaper ad without the approval of department of information and public relations, which comes under minister Raghu Sharma. “Indirectly it is the chief minister who approves all the ads and this way he has kept control on everything,” said the minister.
On several occasions, in the last one year, the rivalry between Gehlot and Pilot has come to the fore and both have not hesitated in speaking against each other.
Source: Economic Times
