Raje centralising power in Rajasthan: Pilot

Alleging that the bureaucracy was dominating the government, Rajasthan Congress chief Sachin Pilot today hit out at Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje saying she has centralised power in the state.
The Pradesh Congress Committee president also remarked that the recent 'Chintan Shivir' of the ruling party, which was attended by BJP national president Amit Shah, was held to appease party workers.
"Most of the BJP ministers have expressed their 'bhadaas' (frustration) before their party president Shah on January 6, and it has come out from ministers that 'bureaucracy is dominating the government' as bureaucrats not giving heed to them," Pilot said in a statement here.

"BJP's chintan shivir was objectively meant for party workers where the party president reportedly asked the ministers to listen to workers and fulfil their aspirations... it is a kind of appeasement for party workers by the BJP government," the PCC chief said.
He further alleged that the "ministers were quoted saying they were not heard by prashaasan (bureaucrats), and it clearly indicated that they were not only helpless but hapless too."
"Chief Minister Raje has centralised all power in her ambit," Pilot maintained.

Taking a swipe at the Raje government, Pilot remarked that the BJP national president was most worried about the Rajasthan government and that is why he was visiting the state frequently, but to no results.

The statement also noted that agrarian crisis in the state as well as the law and order situation in the state did not feature in the BJP event.
Issues like "mining scam and Raje-Lalitgate row" were not raised during the party members interaction with BJP president, Pilot commented.