BJP legislators in Rajasthan are experiencing a blend of anticipation and anxiety as the cabinet expansion in the state prolongs, with the incessant ringing of mobile phones amplifying the tension. While Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma and two deputy chief ministers have already taken the oath, the delay in expanding the cabinet has left hopeful legislators on edge. Many legislators are currently camping near Jaipur, anxiously awaiting the call that could potentially make them ministers.
Since Bhajan Lal Sharma became the Chief Minister for the first time, since then, every legislator has harboured the hope of becoming a minister. In this scenario, BJP legislators from various constituencies around Jaipur are eagerly awaiting calls on their mobile phones. Each call is answered either by the legislator themselves or by their secretaries. Everyone is waiting for the call that will be made to the legislators who are going to take the oath of the ministerial post by the headquarters. Meanwhile, the phones of senior leaders of the organization sitting in Jaipur and Delhi are also being eagerly awaited.
When the cabinet expansion occurs, ministers are typically called for the oath via phone. Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, along with State President CP Joshi or State In-charge Arun Singh, may make the calls to legislators for the oath. The legislators are anxiously awaiting these calls, which are often made officially from the secretariat.
On the other hand, Raj Bhavan has completed all preparations for the oath-taking ceremony. A white tent has been set up. Large numbers of chairs have also been arranged. Now, whenever information about the expansion of the cabinet is given by the government, the oath-taking ceremony will be organised immediately. According to sources, a hotel has also been instructed to stay in active mode to immediately arrange a high—tea for about a thousand people.
However, as hope prevails among first-time legislators, tensions are escalating among senior lawmakers due to recent cabinet expansions in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. The anxiety stems from the fact that many senior legislators and former ministers have not been accommodated in the cabinets of both these states. This growing tension is noticeable among senior legislators in Rajasthan as they await the announcement of the cabinet expansion.