Key administrative moves of BJP govt in '24

With the end of 2024, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Rajasthan, led by chief minister Bhajan Lal Sharma has completed its first year in power.

- HT Correspondent

JAIPUR: The BJP administration, which took office in December 2023, began its term with bold promises and high expectations. Over the course of the year, the government undertook ambitious projects, engaged in significant regional negotiations, and introduced policies that have reshaped the state's political landscape.

The past year has seen the Rajasthan government take several pivotal steps towards securing its future, with the signing of critical agreements such as the MoU with neighbouring Madhya Pradesh and Haryana for the Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project (ERCP) and the Yamuna water-sharing agreement—both long-stalled projects vital to alleviating the state's water scarcity issues. The government also made a significant mark on the economic front by organising the Rising Rajasthan Summit, an initiative aimed at transforming the state into a hub of investment and business activity.

However, the first year also saw the government navigating its share of controversies. The draft of Religious Conversion Bill, introduced by the BJP, sparked intense debates across the state, with critics accusing the government of potentially infringing on individual freedoms and fuelling religious tensions. Additionally, the annulment of nine new districts created by the previous Congress government led by Ashok Gehlot has stirred political uproar. While the BJP defended this move as part of a necessary administrative restructuring, the decision raised questions about its impact on local governance and the future of these regions.

Laying foundation of PKC-ERCP's first phase Soon after coming to power, Sharma signed a tripartite MoU with the Madhya Pradesh and the Union Jal Shakti ministry over the adequate water share of the long-stalled Parvati-Kalisindh-Chambal (PKC)-Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project (ERCP) which will likely solve the drinking and irrigation water scarcity issue across 13 districts of the state.