Express News Service
JAIPUR: The Sachin Pilot camp on Wednesday demanded the party high command to convene a meeting of the Congress Legislative Party (CLP) and sack three MLAs close to Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot.
The long-running feud between the Chief Minister and former Deputy Chief Minister’s camps came to the fore again a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Gehlot shared dais at a public function organised to honour tribals killed by the British army at Mangarh Dham in Rajasthan’s Banswara.
Taking advantage of Modi’s approbation of Gehlot on Tuesday wherein he praised the latter saying, “Ashok Gehlot and I had worked together as Chief Ministers. He is even today the senior most among our Chief Ministers.”
Azad quit the Congress and floated his own outfit, Democratic Azad Party on September 26, 2022.
Gehlot, in turn, reminded the advisory issued by AICC organisation secretary KC Venugopal advising all leaders not to make statements against each other.
“PM Modi praised the CM yesterday (Tuesday). This is an interesting development. At one time PM Modi had also praised Ghulam Nabi Azad in Parliament and everyone knows what happened after that? It should not be taken so lightly,” remarked Pilot who has been silent for a long time in the midst of the ongoing political turmoil in the Rajasthan Congress, spoke to the media in Jaipur on Wednesday.
ALSO READ | ‘Unusual that MLAs get agitated over new CM suggestion’: Gehlot takes dig at Pilot
Besides taking a dig at PM’s praise for CM Gehlot, Pilot also demanded action against all the three pro-Gehlot leaders who allegedly broke the party discipline on September 25 when many Congress MLAs boycotted a CLP meet in the presence of two AICC Observers in Jaipur.
“Notices were given to 3 people and their answers have also been given. Ours is a disciplined party and we have the same rules and regulations for all. Decisions should be taken quickly even on those notices as discipline is applicable to all. Kharge ji has taken over, and a decision needs to be taken on the indiscipline that day,” added Pilot.
Further, Pilot said it is time to end the indecision on the Rajasthan leadership issue.
“KC Venugopal had said that it will be decided soon. We are all busy in elections, soon the announcement of Gujarat elections will also be made. The entire issue of Rajasthan situations should be taken soon,” claimed Pilot.
On 25 September, a meeting of the CLP was called for the selection of the new Chief Minister by AICC, amid plans CM Gehlot’s election as the new AICC President. But a vast majority of pro-Gehlot MLAs boycotted the meeting and even submitted their resignations to Assembly Speaker, CP Joshi. After its investigation, the AICC had issued a show-cause notice to three leaders of the Gehlot faction for boycotting the CLP meeting of the MLAs.
Pilot said that AICC will also have to take the decision of “who has to sit in which post, what responsibility has to be given. Only 13 months are left for elections.”
Pilot’s statement has come at a time when action is awaited against leaders responsible for the political ruckus at the CLP meet in September. From his latest statement, it seems Pilot’s patience is running out for the expected changes in the state Congress. As pressure politics intensifies, the tussle in Congress will increase further.
JAIPUR: The Sachin Pilot camp on Wednesday demanded the party high command to convene a meeting of the Congress Legislative Party (CLP) and sack three MLAs close to Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot.
The long-running feud between the Chief Minister and former Deputy Chief Minister’s camps came to the fore again a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Gehlot shared dais at a public function organised to honour tribals killed by the British army at Mangarh Dham in Rajasthan’s Banswara.
Taking advantage of Modi’s approbation of Gehlot on Tuesday wherein he praised the latter saying, “Ashok Gehlot and I had worked together as Chief Ministers. He is even today the senior most among our Chief Ministers.”
Azad quit the Congress and floated his own outfit, Democratic Azad Party on September 26, 2022.
Gehlot, in turn, reminded the advisory issued by AICC organisation secretary KC Venugopal advising all leaders not to make statements against each other.
“PM Modi praised the CM yesterday (Tuesday). This is an interesting development. At one time PM Modi had also praised Ghulam Nabi Azad in Parliament and everyone knows what happened after that? It should not be taken so lightly,” remarked Pilot who has been silent for a long time in the midst of the ongoing political turmoil in the Rajasthan Congress, spoke to the media in Jaipur on Wednesday.
ALSO READ | ‘Unusual that MLAs get agitated over new CM suggestion’: Gehlot takes dig at Pilot
Besides taking a dig at PM’s praise for CM Gehlot, Pilot also demanded action against all the three pro-Gehlot leaders who allegedly broke the party discipline on September 25 when many Congress MLAs boycotted a CLP meet in the presence of two AICC Observers in Jaipur.
“Notices were given to 3 people and their answers have also been given. Ours is a disciplined party and we have the same rules and regulations for all. Decisions should be taken quickly even on those notices as discipline is applicable to all. Kharge ji has taken over, and a decision needs to be taken on the indiscipline that day,” added Pilot.
Further, Pilot said it is time to end the indecision on the Rajasthan leadership issue.
“KC Venugopal had said that it will be decided soon. We are all busy in elections, soon the announcement of Gujarat elections will also be made. The entire issue of Rajasthan situations should be taken soon,” claimed Pilot.
On 25 September, a meeting of the CLP was called for the selection of the new Chief Minister by AICC, amid plans CM Gehlot’s election as the new AICC President. But a vast majority of pro-Gehlot MLAs boycotted the meeting and even submitted their resignations to Assembly Speaker, CP Joshi. After its investigation, the AICC had issued a show-cause notice to three leaders of the Gehlot faction for boycotting the CLP meeting of the MLAs.
Pilot said that AICC will also have to take the decision of “who has to sit in which post, what responsibility has to be given. Only 13 months are left for elections.”
Pilot’s statement has come at a time when action is awaited against leaders responsible for the political ruckus at the CLP meet in September. From his latest statement, it seems Pilot’s patience is running out for the expected changes in the state Congress. As pressure politics intensifies, the tussle in Congress will increase further.
