Raje expands Cabinet, Bhati joins in

Jaipur, Jul 4 (UNI) The four-and-a-half year old Vasundhara Raje Council of Ministers in Rajasthan was expanded today with induction of Rajput leader former minister Devi Singh Bhati as a Cabinet Minister.

Governor Shilendra Kumar Singh administered oath of the office and secracy to Mr Bhati at a brief ceremony held at the Raj Bhawan here today.

Chief Minister Raje, along with several of her Cabinet colleagues and other dignitaries were present.

Mr Bhati had announced the merger of his Samajik Nyaya Munch(SNM) with the ruling BJP a few months ago.

Mr Bhati had won the last Assembly election from Kolayat in Bikaner district for his sixth term, as a SNM candidate.

Now,the Raje Council of Ministers has strength of 30-19 Cabinet Ministers and 11 Ministers of State.

As per the constitutional ceiling over the size of state Council of Ministers, a maximum of 30 Ministers can be accommodated in the Ministry.

The last Cabinet expansion was effected in December last.

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