JAIPUR: School education minister Govind Singh Dotasra’s informal comment to a government official has triggered speculations about his fate in the upcoming cabinet reshuffle.
At a function in Ajmer on Saturday, he was heard telling the Rajasthan Board of Secondary Education (RBSE) director sitting next to him that he might be in the department for only a few more days.
As a brief video clip of the conversation went viral on social media on Monday, people began to speculate that Dotasra may either be dropped as minister or his portfolio may be changed in the upcoming reshuffle.
The Congress government is planning a major rejig of the council of ministers in the next few days as part of a major overhaul.
The official was telling the minister of some pending works and meeting him. He was heard telling him “...aap somwaar ko aa jao...ek minute mai nikaloonga, kitna bhi kaho …main shayad 2-5 din ka mehmaan hoon (come on Monday... I will get the work done in a minute… I think I am there for just 2-5 days more),” Dotasra was heard saying as he munched snacks during the event.
Dotasra was in the news recently on allegations of influencing RPSC in the RAS-2018 exam. Dotasra's daughter-in-law’s brother and sister secured 80 out of 100 marks in the interview round of the Rajasthan Administrative Service (RAS) exams, though they scored less than 50% in the written exam while many toppers of the RAS written test were given marginal numbers.
Dotasra, who is also the Pradesh Congress Committee president, had denied the allegations. He claimed that the exams were conducted in a fair manner and stressed that only capable, deserving candidates made it to the merit list.
He had accused the BJP of running a campaign against him as he had demanded the arrest of Nimbaram, an RSS leader, accused in corruption by the ACB.
Party sources said “one man, one post” policy, which was not followed in previous Congress governments, could be implemented this time. This may see Congress state president Dotasra having to choose between MOS school education and PCC post. He would want to, and is likely to, stay as the state party chief while relinquishing the ministry.
