Raje146;s first reshuffle: two Meena ministers out, one Gurjjar in

Four of the new entrants are of Cabinet rank 8212; Nathu Singh Gurjjar, Ramkishore Meena, Kalicharan Saraf and Nandlal Meena. All of them were ministers in the erstwhile BJP Government led by Bhairon Singh Shekhawat.

Surendra Goyal, a new face, was made Minister of State with an independent charge.

Kiori Lal Meena had submitted his resignation to the Chief Minister on December 13 and did not attend the swearing-in of ministers on Monday while Virendra Meena quit.

The inclusion of Nathu Singh Gurjjar was apparently aimed at placating the community which is livid at the rejection of its demand for Scheduled Tribe status by a committee set up by the state Government and threatened to launch a stir to press for the demand.

With the induction of five, the strength of the BJP ministry rose to 32 which included 18 Cabinet ministers.

This was the first reshuffle of her council of ministers by the Chief Minister since coming to power four years ago.