Gehlot-Revolt: A Conflict Of Interest, Says Maken

The so-called resignation of 82 loyal MLA’s in favor of chief minister Ashok Gehlot from the state assembly on Sunday night created a huge political drama.

The MLAs are opposing the appointment of Sachin Pilot as a new Rajasthan CM as he rebelled against the Gehlot government in July 2020. This comes after speculation rose that Sachin Pilot will take over as the new chief minister if Ashok Gehlot wins the Congress’s presidential poll.

Meanwhile, Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi has directed observers Mallikarjun Kharge and Ajay Maken to conduct one-on-one talks with the MLAs to resolve the crisis.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot arrived at the Jaipur’s Marriott hotel to meet Congress observers Mallikarjun Kharge and Ajay Maken.

Former Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad when asked to comment on the political crisis in Rajasthan, said, “Jo gao chod diya uska naam nahi lena chahta (Don’t wanna talk about what I have already left behind).” Azad had quit Congress on August 26, calling the party “comprehensively destroyed”. He also lashed out at Rahul Gandhi for “demolishing” the party’s entire consultative mechanism.

Sources in the Congress party told that the party’s high command is upset with Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot over the political crisis in the state. They said that every decision in Rajasthan was made after Gehlot was consulted. Despite Gehlot confirming that he had no hand in the events of Sunday night, the party high command feels the MLAs resigned at his behest.

According to sources, the party high command feels that people around Ashok Gehlot have convinced him that the chief minister’s post is bigger than the party president.