Picture : Twitter/ ANI
Efforts were underway by senior Congress leaders on Monday to resolve the impasse in Rajasthan after several MLAs loyal to Ashok Gehlot submitted resignation letters over a possible move to appoint Sachin Pilot as the next chief minister.
Congress observers Mallikarjun Kharge and Ajay Maken, who had waited in vain for all legislators to arrive for the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting on Sunday, were trying to persuade Gehlot loyalists to meet them one by one in an effort to defuse the political crisis.
The Gehlot loyalists had visited Speaker C P Joshi’s home after a long meeting at minister Shanti Dhariwal’s residence on Sunday, saying they were resigning as MLAs.
According to CNN-IBN report, Congress leader Sachin Pilot is in touch with the Gandhis amid the political crisis in Rajasthan, sources said. The top leadership of the party is upset with the rebellion of Gehlot loyalists.
“Mallikarjun Kharge and I came to Jaipur as AICC observers to hold a meeting in accordance with the CM’s convenience his residence. We were continuously telling the MLAs who didn’t come to meet us, to come and talk one-on-one.
“If CM Ashok Gehlot becomes Congress chief after October 19, he can empower himself over his own resolution. “The second condition is that the MLAs wanted to come in groups when we said that we shall talk to everyone individually.
“We made it clear that this is not how it works, but they did not accept it.
“The third condition was that the CM should be from the 102 MLAs who are loyal to CM Ashok Gehlot and not Sachin Pilot or his group. We said that their exact sentiments will be conveyed to the Congress chief, who will take the decision after talking to CM Ashok Gehlot and everyone else,” AICC observer Ajay Maken said.
We waited for more MLAs to come, but they didn’t. Mallikarjun Kharge and I are going to Delhi to submit our report to Cong chief. No one has any idea about the number and identities of the MLAs who resigned or not. We are hopeful to sit and talk through this to find a solution, Ajay Maken told ANI
They (Cong MLAs) insisted that the resolution be in line with 3 conditions, to which we said that never in the history of Congress has any resolution been passed with strings attached to it & which is conditional. There should be no conflict of interest, AICC observer Ajay Maken told ANI
Meanwhile, Amid high political drama over leadership change in Rajasthan, the Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party 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”.
“The current political situation in Rajasthan is pointing towards President’s rule. Chief Minister @ashokgehlot51, why are you doing drama? Why is there a delay after the cabinet has resigned? You too should resign,” Deputy Leader of Opposition Rajendra Rathore commented on Twitter.
राजस्थान में मौजूदा राजनीतिक हालात राष्ट्रपति शासन की ओर इशारा कर रहे हैं। मुख्यमंत्री @ashokgehlot51 जी, आप नाटक क्यों कर रहे हों। मंत्रिमंडल के इस्तीफे के बाद अब देरी कैसी। आप भी इस्तीफा दे दीजिए।
— Rajendra Rathore (@Rajendra4BJP) September 25, 2022
