New Delhi: The Congress in Rajasthan plunged into a crisis as around 90 MLAs loyal to current chief minister Ashok Gehlot submitted resignation letters over a possible move to appoint Sachin Pilot as the next chief minister, their rebellion erupting just ahead of a Congress Legislature Party meeting.
The loyalists visited Speaker C.P. Joshi after a long meeting in the evening at minister Shanti Dhariwal’s residence, saying they were resigning as MLAs.
This happened while at the chief minister’s home, Gehlot and Congress observers Mallikarjun Kharge and Ajay Maken waited for all legislators to arrive for the CLP meeting. Pilot and his supporters were present at the meeting, but it was a washout.
Gehlot loyalists and some news reports have claimed that the number of MLAs who visited the Speaker was over 90. The Congress has 108 MLAs in the House of 200.
There was no word from the Speaker’s office on the resignation letters.
Gehlot, according to NDTV, told the party’s central leadership that this development was “not in his hands”.
“Nothing is in my hands. The MLAs are angry,” he said.
Efforts fail
Late on Sunday night, there were efforts by Kharge and Maken to persuade Gehlot loyalists to meet them one on one, if not as part of the planned MLAs’ meeting.
Ministers Shanti Dhariwal, Pratap Singh Khachariyawas and Mahesh Joshi, along with Gehlot’s advisor Sanyam Lodha met the AICC observers, but the standoff continued.
On their return, report said, they told the other loyalists that they had put forth some conditions:
- They wanted the decision on the next CM to be left till after the Congress organisational election, and
- Stressed that Gehlot should have a say in picking the new CM who should be someone who stood by the veteran leader during the rebellion by Pilot supporters in 2020.
Gehlot and Pilot had been at loggerheads over the chief minister’s post soon after the Congress won the assembly elections in December 2018. The high command then chose Gehlot as the chief minister for the third time while Pilot was made his deputy. In July 2020, Pilot along with 18 party MLAs, rebelled against Gehlot’s leadership, but the two appeared to resolve differences.
‘Take views of MLAs into account’
Around midnight, the loyalists began dispersing from Joshi’s home.
“We have submitted our resignation and are now going home. The MLAs want that any decision on the CM should be taken only after the election of the party’s national president,” minister Govind Ram Meghwal said.
The loyalists said the views of MLAs should be taken into account.
“Later, whatever decision taken by the high command will be accepted,”independent MLA Babulal Nagar said.
“If a decision is not taken keeping the MLAs’ sentiments in mind, the government will be in danger,” independent legislator and advisor to the chief minister Sanyam Lodha said.
The aborted CLP meeting was seen as crucial step ahead of Gehlot filing his nomination for the Congress president’s post, amid speculation that the former deputy chief minister Pilot will take his place in the state.
Gehlot, seen by many as a reluctant candidate for the top party position, initially appeared unwilling to give up his CM’s post. Later, it was speculated that he would rather see C.P. Joshi – or anyone else – as chief minister rather than Pilot, who had rebelled against his leadership.
Earlier in the day, Gehlot told reporters in Jaisalmer that the MLAs would pass a one-line resolution at the CLP meeting calling upon party president Sonia Gandhi to pick his successor.
But the MLAs appeared to have decided to go off script.
(With PTI inputs)