Agencies / WEB DESK
Amid the ongoing political crisis Rajasthan, deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot has made it clear that he will not attend the Rajasthan Legislature Party meeting scheduled for Monday morning, a statement from his office indicated. The Congress leader on Sunday openly rebelled, claiming that he had the support of 30 Congress MLAs and some independents in the state assembly.
The statement was circulated in a WhatsApp group operated by Sachin Pilot’s office.
“Rajasthan Deputy CM and Congress leader Sachin Pilot not to attend Congress Legislature Party meeting scheduled to be held tomorrow. Pilot says Ashok Gehlot government in minority after over 30 Congress and some independent MLAs have pledged their support to Sachin Pilot,” the message read.
The crisis in the Rajasthan unit of the Congress heightened on Sunday with party veteran and Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and his deputy Sachin Pilot involved in a power tussle, with the CM blaming the BJP for attempting to topple the state government by poaching MLAs.
Besides being the deputy chief minister, Sachin Pilot is also the state Congress president.
The statement from his office appeared just as ministers and Congress MLAs were gathering at CM Gehlot’s official residence in Jaipur for a meeting to express support to the chief minister in the midst of a power tussle between the two leaders.
The Congress Legislature Party is due to meet at the Rajasthan CM’s residence at 10:30 am on Monday.
After Gehlot’s meeting with Congress party lawmakers concluded in Jaipur on Sunday night, Congress MLA Rajendra Gudda said, “Gehlot ji has the majority. We are also making efforts and some BJP MLAs are in our contact. We will bring more MLAs from BJP than lose.”
Earlier on Sunday morning, the Rajasthan chief minister met several legislators and ministers who had come to meet him at his residence to convey that they were with the chief minister in the hour of political turmoil.
According to a few officials posted at the chief minister’s residence as many as 95 lawmakers have allegedly given a letter of support to Gehlot.
The 200-member Rajasthan assembly is made up of 107 Congress MLAs and has the support of another 18, taking the party’s tally to 125. The BJP has 72 legislators and is supported by three MLAs of Hanuman Beniwal’s RSLP. In the Rajya Sabha elections on June 19, the two Congress candidates got votes of all 125 legislators supporting the government.
SOG of Rajasthan Police issues notices to CM, Deputy CM, some ministers and MLAs
Special Operation Group, SOG of Rajasthan Police has issued notices to Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot along with some ministers and MLAs for making their statements in connection with the luring of MLAs by offering money.
The SOG had registered a case two days ago based on a phone recording done before the Rajya Sabha elections. Two people have also been arrested in this case. Mr Gehlot has accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of destabilizing the government. He also expressed confidence that his government is stable and will complete the full five-year term.
On the other hand, State BJP President Satish Poonia said that there is a constant rift between Chief Minister Gehlot and Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot.
Meanwhile, a press conference was also held at the Rajasthan Chief Minister’s residence in which some members of the State Council of Ministers were present. Some MLAs were also present in this Press Conference, about whom it was being speculated that they are unhappy with the Chief Minister and camped in Delhi.
Addressing the media, these MLAs said that they are with the Congress party. These MLAs said that they had gone to Delhi for personal work.
Congress MLA from Kishanpol seat of Jaipur, Amin Kagji admitted that more than 15 MLAs of the party are in Delhi. He also expressed confidence that all the MLAs will return to Jaipur by tonight or tomorrow morning.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Gehlot has called a meeting of the Legislative Party at 10.30 AM tomorrow amid the rapidly changing political scenario in the state.
Even before the Rajya Sabha elections, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot accused the BJP of destabilizing his government and horse-trading of MLAs. But, Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot had said that all the MLAs are with the party.
Once again the Chief Minister has made similar allegations against the BJP. While Deputy Chief Minister and Party State President Sachin Pilot didn’t comment on these allegations.
State BJP President Satish Poonia has said that the Chief Minister is trying to stop the party’s discord by showing fear of ACB and SOG. Amidst the accusation, discussions throughout the day in the state revolved around whether there is indeed a conspiracy in all these incidents, or is it the result of an internal resistance within the Congress.
Meanwhile, the Congress has sent its senior leaders Ajay Maken and Randeep Surjewala as central observers to Jaipur amid the political crisis in Rajasthan. Sources said, the two leaders will meet and hold discussions with party MLAs.