But what is equally significant has been the balancing act by the party high command in accommodating Gujjar leader Sachin Pilot and Meena leader Namonarain Meena in the Ministry. By doing so, the party has sought to erase the bitterness rivalry between the two warring communities. IT has also, in a way, condoned the revolt staged by Namonarain Meena who contested the Tank Sawai Madhopur seat.

Of course, the fact that Mr. Meena trounced prominent Gujjar leader Kirori Singh Bainsla in the electoral combat must have influenced the party high command's decision to reward him with a ministerial berth.

It also represents a rebuff to the BJP, which had fielded Mr. Bainsla from the Tank-Sawai Madhopur seat.

Now that Mr. Bainsla and his followers are threatening to revive the agitation, it is time for the Gehlot Government to address, on a priority basis, the unresolved issue of granting special category status to the Gujjars for job reservation in the State.

The Bill, passed in a hurry by the State Assembly last year to halt the agitation, has peen pending with the Governor. The Raj Bhavan may return the Bill for reconsideration by the State Assembly, and the State Government, may in its wisdom, revise the proposed legislation to solve the job quota issue in a manner that fits well with the legal and constitutional requirements.

Observers are of the view that the ruling Congress should not give another opportunity to the Gujjar community to revive the agitation. The state government should hold talks with the Opposition BJP on the issue, they say, adding that the Meenas will have to be persuaded to soften their opposition to the Gujjar demand.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has done well by removing non-performing ministers like Sis Ram Ola. In the process, he may have disappointed other aspirants like Girija Vyas, who is the Chairperson of the National Women's Commission, a status equivalent to that of a Minister.

Prof. C P Joshi, who is the Rajasthan PCC president, has been given Cabinet rank. He will have to perform to meet the raised expectations of not only the party but also the people of the state.

It is in this context that both the Centre and the State Government should try to make Rajasthan a model state in the implementation of the National Rural Employment Guarantee scheme (NREGS). The state has done well in the past despite it being ruled by the BJP during the last five years. The first thing the state government has to do is to clear the wage arrears due to the poor men and women who had worked under the scheme but who have not been paid their wages for several months. (IPA)