MLAs backing Gehlot threaten to resign, oppose Pilot as CM

More than two-thirds of the 102 Rajasthan Congress MLAs late Sunday passed a one-line resolution stating that they would submit their resignation if their demand - that Ashok Gehlot, who is supposed to contest for the post of AICC chief, be allowed to continue as the CM, or his loyalist should take over from him - wasn't accepted by the high command. They made it clear they won't accept "any of those who tried to destablise the Congress government" in 2020, a reference to the then aborted coup bid-led by Sachin Pilot. Incidentally, AICC was trying to get a one-line resolution passed by the CLP, authorising Congress president Sonia Gandhi to decide her nominee for the CM's post.

At the time of going to press, these MLAs, with one of them putting their number at around 90, had reached assembly Speaker CP Joshi's residence "to put in their resignation" in support of their demand.

This power play, if not a rebellion, is an attempt by the Gehlot camp to thwart Sachin Pilot camp's calculations that the latter, a contender for the CM's post since 2018, can make it this time on the 'support' of the Gandhi-Vadra leadership, even against the majority view of the MALs. The full-fledged show of strength by the Gehlot camp delayed the CLP meeting, scheduled for 7 pm, to decide the next CM. Going by the claim of numbers by the Gehlot camp, the Pilot camp may be left with about 10 plus MLAs' support. The Gehlot government has been enjoying the support of over a dozen independent MLAs too.


"If the decision is not taken according to the wishes of the MLAs, how will the government run? The government will fall," said Sanyam Lodhan, an independent MLA, who had attended the meeting held by Gehlot supporters.

Many felt the Gehlot camp's power play was meant as much for Pilot as it was for the Gandhi-Vadra-led high command.

"Let us wait and watch for the final decision, but already the supporters of Gehlot have shown to the high command that Rajasthan is not Punjab," quipped a senior Congress leader in reference to how easily Rahul-Priyanaka duo "humiliatingly" replaced the then Punjab CM Captain Amarinder Singh with their hand-picked Charanjit Channi as a prelude to scripting an electoral debacle.

Incidentally, Gehlot's supporters' show of assertion came days after Rahul Gandhi had publicly differed with Gehlot on the latter's 'two-post' theory.

The pro-Gehlot MLAs, some said they were over 75 and some others put the number at nearly 90, held their meeting at minister Shanti Dhariwal's residence. Gehlot chose to be away from the meeting and in between held a meeting with AICC observer Mallikarjun Kharge and AICC general secretary in-charge Ajay Maken who had arrived in Jaipur to oversee the CLP Meeting.

The show of strength has also poured cold water on the speculation that the CM's earlier statement that "a new generation leader" can take over from him was meant for Pilot's elevation.

(With Agencies' Inputs)