Mentioning swearing-in of deputy CMs in invitation cards unconstitutional: Rajasthan Cong president Dotasra

Govind Singh Dotasra tweeted that the invitation cards issued for CM's swearing-in programme mentions that two Deputy CMs will take oath along with CM but there is nothing in Article 163 and 164 of the Constitution about oath of office of Deputy CMs. Earlier, Sachin Pilot was sworn-in as Ashok Gehlot's deputy but it was not mentioned in the invitation cards.

Jaipur:Close on the heels of its formation, the BJP-led government of Rajasthan has courted controversy with state Congress President Govind Singh Dotasra raising questions about the swearing-in of the two Deputy Chief Ministers tomorrow saying the Constitution does not have the provision of oath for any such post.

Vidyadhar Nagar MLA Diya Kumari and Dudu MLA Premchand Bairwa will be sworn-in as Deputy Chief Ministers along with Chief Minister-designate Bhajan Lal Sharma tomorrow at Ramniwas Bagh outside Albert Hall Museum. Invitation letters in this regard have also been issued at the government level.

Taking to his X handle, Dotasra said there is "no description of the oath of office" of any such person while giving reference to Articles 163 and 164 of the Constitution. "In the government invitation for the swearing-in ceremony to be held tomorrow, the details of the swearing-in of the Deputy Chief Minister along with the Chief Minister have been written, whereas in Articles 163, 164 of the Constitution, there is no description of the oath of office of any such person," Dotasra tweeted.

Notably, during the third term of erstwhile Ashok Gehlot government, the swearing-in ceremony of the Chief Minister took place outside the Albert Hall of Ramniwas Bagh. At that time, Sachin Pilot took oath as Deputy Chief Minister along with Gehlot. But, this was not mentioned in the government invitation cards.

According to sources, there is no constitutional recognition for the Deputy Chief Minister post and it is the political party that appoints their leader as the deputy for their own political gains. The Deputy CM post too increases the stature of a candidate.

In Gehlot's first term, Dwarka Prasad Bairwa and Kamla Beniwal were appointed Deputy Chief Ministers while during the tenure of Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, Harishankar Bhabhada had become the Deputy Chief Minister.

Read on: