Cracks have begun to appear in Rajasthan Congress amid speculations of change of guard in the state after Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot became the first person to announce his candidature for the AICC presidential poll.
As Congress leader Rahul Gandhi wants the commitment of “one-man, one-post”, which was adopted as part of the Udaipur Declaration, to be honoured, several ministers in the Rajasthan government and party MLAs have thrown their weight behind Gehlot while some have endorsed Sachin Pilot.
After announcing his bid for the Congress president poll, CM Gehlot had said that the call on his successor will be taken by Sonia Gandhi and general secretary in-charge Rajasthan Ajay Maken.
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Here are the latest updates in the desert storm brewing in Rajasthan politics:
- Around 80 Gehlot loyalist MLAs are expected to meet Rajasthan Speaker C P Joshi at 9 pm tonight to submit their resignation, according to The Indian Express.
- Congress observers Mallikarjun Kharge and Ajay Maken reached the CM’s residence ahead of the CLP meet, news agency PTI reported.
- Rajasthan Minister Pratap Singh Khachariyawas said the talks of changing the CM will happen after CM Ashok Gehlot becomes party president. Out of 102 MLAs, anybody can become the CM. Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Ashok Gehlot will decide it, the minister said.
- Congress MLAs start arriving at the residence of CM Ashok Gehlot for the CLP meeting.
Jaipur, Rajasthan | Congress MLAs start arriving at the residence of CM Ashok Gehlot for the CLP meeting pic.twitter.com/cTNKXDiVMD
— ANI MP/CG/Rajasthan (@ANI_MP_CG_RJ) September 25, 2022
- Congress leader Sachin Pilot reached CM Ashok Gehlot’s residence for the CLP meeting.
Jaipur, Rajasthan | Congress leader Sachin Pilot leaves for CM Ashok Gehlot’s residence for CLP meeting pic.twitter.com/A7azorZ8KC
— ANI MP/CG/Rajasthan (@ANI_MP_CG_RJ) September 25, 2022
- Gehlot said he never thought about resigning as the chief minister of Rajasthan. “It was spread by the media from the very beginning that Ashok Gehlot does not want to leave the post of Chief Minister of Rajasthan, while this thing has never been in my mind, I have already told the high command on August 9 that it is very important to win the next Rajasthan elections,” he tweeted.
ये तो मीडिया ने उड़ा दिया शुरू से ही कि अशोक गहलोत राजस्थान का मुख्यमंत्री पद छोड़ना नहीं चाहते हैं, जबकि ये बात कभी मेरे दिमाग में नहीं रही, मैं तो 9 अगस्त को ही कह चुका हूँ हाईकमान को कि अगला राजस्थान का चुनाव जीतना बहुत आवश्यक है कांग्रेस को। pic.twitter.com/e7MFyBJrLf
— Ashok Gehlot (@ashokgehlot51) September 25, 2022
- The Rajasthan CM said traditionally Congress pass a one-line resolution to give rights to the Congress president whenever there is a Legislative party meeting for election or for choosing CM face.
#WATCH | As far as post of Congress president is concerned, I’ve been in politics for 50 yrs & held various posts for 40 yrs what more can a person expect, now the new generation should get a chance so that we together can provide leadership in the country: Rajasthan CM Gehlot pic.twitter.com/SyiKSjd2Dd
— ANI MP/CG/Rajasthan (@ANI_MP_CG_RJ) September 25, 2022
- Advisor to the chief minister and independent MLA Sanyam Lodha said that everyone wants Gehlot to continue as chief minister and warned if he is replaced then the government might collapse.
Rajasthan | Our demand is that Ashok Gehlot should remain the CM. If CM is made as per the wishes of MLAs then the govt will function smoothly, if that doesn’t happen then there’s a danger of govt getting collapsed: Independent MLA Sanyam Lodha pic.twitter.com/z6BAxOMKvp
— ANI MP/CG/Rajasthan (@ANI_MP_CG_RJ) September 25, 2022
- Ahead of the Congress Legislature Party meeting on Sunday evening, MLAs considered close to Gehlot met under the leadership of Cabinet Minister Shanti Dhariwal. Sources say that Dhariwal will not go to attend the CLP meeting, but can go directly to the house of Speaker CP Joshi to submit his resignation.
- Health Minister Parsadi Lal Meena said, “The name of the Chief Minister is decided by the party high command. Whatever will be decided by Sonia Gandhi will be accepted by all. I was with Gehlot ji from the very beginning in politics, I am a minister for the third time. The high command has always made (Ashok) Gehlot ji and I am with whomever the high command will make the CM.”
- Chief Minister’s advisor and senior MLA Babulal Nagar said it is necessary that the 2023 assembly elections should be under Gehlot’s leadership.
- A meeting of the Congress Legislature Party will be held at Gehlot’s residence in Jaipur at 7 pm on September 25. Congress president Sonia Gandhi has appointed Mallikarjun Kharge as observer along with general secretary in-charge Rajasthan Ajay Maken. They will attend the meeting of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) of the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly. This is the second CLP meeting within a week. The last meeting was held on September 20.
- It may be noted that Pilot along with 18 party MLAs rebelled against Gehlot’s leadership in July 2020. Later, he was sacked as the deputy chief minister as well as the state PCC chief. Pilot on Friday met Rajasthan Assembly Speaker C P Joshi amid speculations of change of guard in the state.
- Minister of State for Rural Development Rajendra Singh Gudha has called for Pilot to be made the chief minister and called him the “best face”. “There is no other best face than Sachin Pilot in Congress. Whatever the high command will decide, it will be final but when it comes to my opinion, there is no better leader in Rajasthan than Pilot after Gehlot.”
- Besides Pilot, names of Speaker CP Joshi and Govind Singh Dotasra are also doing the rounds for the race in the Congress on who will be the next chief minister of Rajasthan.
(With PTI inputs)
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