Raj Cabinet to be formed today

JAIPUR: Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma will form his cabinet on Saturday, putting an end to fortnight-long suspense since he took the oath of office along with his two deputies Diya Kumari and Prem Chand Bairwa on December 15. Governor Kalraj Mishra will administer the oath to the ministers at Raj Bhawan at 3:15pm, as per a government invitation.
The CM went to Delhi on Friday evening to meet Union home minister Amit Shah and BJP national president JP Nadda to finalise the list of ministers.This was Sharma's third visit to Delhi since taking office to discuss the formation of his council of ministers. He left Delhi for Jaipur by road late on Friday night, and all BJP legislators were asked by the party to remain present in the state capital on Saturday.
Sources said 17 to 20 ministers were expected to take oath but their portfolios would be assigned in the first week of January.
"Sharma's visit to Delhi indicates that many names (of ministers) are yet to be finalised with the BJP senior leadership. Some MLAs who are to be appointed ministers have been informed over the phone in the evening and asked to remain present for the oath ceremony," said a source.
Most BJP MLAs have been in Jaipur, expecting cabinet formation any day. As the news about Saturday's ceremony spread, they started calling one another for confirmation, and those with hints of their elevation got busy preparing for the swearing-in.
Frontrunners for inclusion in the council of ministers include Sawai Madhopur MLA Kirori Lal Meena and Tijara MLA Baba Balaknath. BJP has reportedly identified the MLAs carefully, keeping an eye on a balance of castes and genders.
Cabinet likely to have five to six women ministers
Frontrunners from the Rajput community include religious leader Pratap Puri (Pokhran) and Pushpendra Singh Ranawat (Bali), said sources. The party's SC faces Madan Dilawar (Ramganj Mandi) and Jitendra Gotwal (Khandar) are also among the frontrunners, they added.The Jat community is eyeing 3-4 cabinet berths, and the frontrunners include first-time MLA Nauksham Choudhary (Kaman) and Malpura MLA Kanhaiya Lal Choudhary. Two more faces from the Brahmin community can get cabinet berths, and among the frontrunners are Alwar City MLA Sanjay Sharma and Kota South MLA Sandeep Sharma, said the sources. Given BJP's focus on women voters during the assembly polls, the cabinet is likely to have five to six women ministers. Other than Diya Kumari and Nauksham Choudhary, the frontrunners include five-term Ajmer South MLA Anita Bhadel, two-term Rajsamand MLA Deepti Maheshwari and Bikaner East MLA Siddhi Kumari.