Nothing in my hands, says Gehlot as 82 MLAs quit in new crisis for Congress

Mangalore Today News Network

Jaipur, Sep 26, 2022: Rajasthan Congress again plunged into a crisis as over 80 MLAs, loyalists of the Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot’s camp, submitted their resignation letters to the assembly Speaker, CP Joshi, at his residence on Sunday night. The MLAs have been opposing the appointment of a new Rajasthan CM from those who rebelled against the Gehlot government in July 2020.

 

The hectic political developments come at a time as CM Ashok Gehlot prepares to contest the Congress presidential election and speculations are rife that his bete noire Sachin Pilot could replace him. Here are the top developments of the story:

-A high political drama erupted over a leadership change in Rajasthan after 82 MLAs resigned from the state assembly on Sunday night. The drama unfolded in Rajasthan as Congress leaders loyal to Ashok Gehlot resigned from the state assembly ahead of the legislature party meeting scheduled for Sunday.

-Congress leader Sachin Pilot and his supporters waited for the legislators for the CLP meet but it was a washout. Congress observers Mallikarjun Kharge and Ajay Maken were also waiting at CM Gehlot’s residence but the meeting did not happen. The MLAs had returned home by midnight after putting in their resignations.

-Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi directed observers Mallikarjun Kharge and Ajay Maken to conduct one-on-one talks with Rajasthan MLAs to resolve the crisis. Both AICC observers Mallikarjun Kharge and Ajay Maken will go to Delhi today and submit the report to the top leadership. Miffed MLAs are not ready to meet the observers. The next step will be decided after discussion with the high Command, sources said.

-The MLAs who have resigned have a three-point agenda, sources told India Today TV. The MLAs want a chief ministerial face should be chosen from the 102 MLAs who were loyal to the Congress party in June 2020 when there was an attempt to topple the government. Gehlot camp MLAs have conveyed to the party high command emissaries, including Maken and Khadge, that deliberations on possible leadership change in Rajasthan should happen after the new Congress President is appointed.Third, Ashok Gehlot’s choice should be taken into consideration.

-State legislator Pratap Singh Khachariyawas told ANI, "All the MLAs are angry and are resigning. We are going to the party president for that. MLAs are upset that how CM Ashok Ghehlo can take a decision without consulting them."

-State minister Mahesh Joshi said that they want the party to take care of people who have been loyal to Congress. He further said that every MLA believes in interim president Sonia Gandhi that their demands will be considered, reported ANI.

-Sources said CM Ashok Gehlot told Congress general secretary KC Venugopal over the phone: "Mere bas mein kuch nahi hai. (Nothing is in my hands)." Gehlot had also said that he has held various constitutional posts for 40 years and the new generation should get a chance. This triggered a buzz that he was not against the party picking Sachin Pilot as his successor in the state.

-The crisis comes at a time when Ashok Gehlot is gearing up to contest for Congress President election. Gehlot had earlier asserted that he would continue as the chief minister of Rajasthan even if he assumed the responsibility of Congress leadership. However, Gehlot changed track after Rahul Gandhi spoke about the ’one-man, one-post’ pledge.

-The Opposition BJP on Sunday hinted at imposition of President’s rule in the state. The saffron party also called the ruling Congress the “government of camps”, with BJP state chief tweeting “God save Rajasthan”.

BJP state president Satish Poonia said the trends of 2023 assembly elections have started showing in the state.

-Tonk MLA Sachin Pilot has been eyeing the top party post since the grand old party won the elections in 2018. In July 2020, Pilot along with 18 party MLAs rebelled against Gehlot’s leadership. The one-month-long political crisis ended after Rahul Gandhi’s intervention, but Sachin Pilot was sacked as the deputy CM as well as the State PCC chief.

Courtesy: India Today