The main focus of Bhajan Lal government is to implement the investment MoUs signed during the Rising Rajasthan Global Summit held in December 2024. For that Bhajan Lal has played a masterstroke.
Out of total pledged investment, around Rs 25 lakh crore has been committed in the energy sector. Now that most of the proposals are from energy sector, Bhajan Lal needed a strong officer to head energy department driving the MoUs to reality. Since Ajitabh Sharma, in the role of principal secretary industries has steered the proposals, he was the best person to drive the proposals for implementation.
“After the death of Alokji, a senior officer was needed for the fructification of proposals. Ajitabh Sharma, who had held this position in previous government, fits the bill. Sharma was also instrumental in devising the state's renewable policy,” said a senior official.
Alok Gupta, a 1996 batch IAS officer is batchmate of Ajitabh Sharma. He has worked closely with chief minister in the role of his principal secretary. Bhajan Lal has trust in him and that is the reason he has sent him to the industries department where his main job would be to implement the MoUs. Since Gupta has been part of almost all the review meetings of Rising Rajasthan, he knows the status of the proposals.
“Having been part of CMO, Gupta knows how much importance does realisation of MoUs carry for chief minister and the state. His priority will definitely be to fast track the implementation,” said a senior official, who has worked with Gupta.
The state government has announced that MoUs worth Rs 3.08 lakh crore have already been grounded out of the record investment proposals. Now bigger task ahead for both Sharma and Gupta would be to increase the tally at the Rising Rising Rajasthan: Partnership Conclave – 2025 scheduled to be held on 11-12 December 2025.
The conclave as the annual follow up of the Rising Rajasthan Global Summit, will not only showcase the implementation of the MoUs but also help forge government-business tie-ups and showcase Rajasthan's business reforms.
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