New Delhi, Oct 31 (IANS) The induction of Lalchand Kataria as minister of state for rural development in the UPA government will convey a positive message to the politically influential Jat community in Rajasthan, Congress party sources said Wednesday.
Kataria is the party’s Lok Sabha member from Jaipur rural constituency and a ministerial berth to him will boost the prospect of the Congress in Rajasthan where polls are due next year, sources added.
Low-profile Kataria was chosen after Sikar MP and former minister of state for tribal affairs Mahadeo Singh Khandela, also a Jat, resigned from his post ahead of the cabinet rejig Sunday.
Congress sources said Khandela may be assigned party work but he had to be replaced with another Jat leader to give the right message to the politically influential land-owning community, which has around 10 percent votes in Rajasthan.
The choice also narrowed down to Kataria as Barmer MP Harish Chaudhary indicated he was more interested to work for the party keeping in mind an impending reshuffle in the Congress organisation.
According to sources, Kataria’s induction into the government is also expected to boost the party’s prospects in the Jaipur area, where the Congress is not on a strong wicket.
Kataria, an agriculturist by profession, was a member of the Rajasthan legislative assembly 2003-2008. He is a first-time Lok Sabha member. Kataria is also a member of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on food, consumers affairs and public distribution.
