News Analysis India

Tag: ashok gehlot

  • Rajasthan: Ajay Maken’s offer to resign intensifies rift within Congress

    Express News Service

    JAIPUR: Amid the tussle between supporters of the Gehlot-Pilot groups, the political temperature in Rajasthan is heating up before the entry of Congress MP Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra in the state.

    Congress in-charge Ajay Maken’s offer to resign, 15 days before Rahul Gandhi’s arrival has led to many questions. Is it just a coincidence or was it done intentionally?

    Angry over the lack of action against three rebel leaders of the Gehlot faction for the uproar on September 25 despite Mallikarjun  Kharge becoming the national president, Maken wrote a letter to the party president on November 8, offering to quit the post of Rajasthan in charge.

    Ajay Maken was an observer along with the current president Kharge for the Legislature Party meeting in Jaipur on 25 September. MLAs of the Gehlot faction had boycotted that meeting.

    After this, the rift in the state unit grew so serious that CM Gehlot had to apologize to Sonia Gandhi. It was on the basis of Kharge and Maken’s report that notices were issued to ministers Shanti Dhariwal and Mahesh Joshi and  RTDC chairman Dharmendra Rathore who were held responsible for the boycott of the Legislature Party meeting. Though the three leaders replied, the matter has been put in cold storage.

    The Gehlot camp had even accused Maken of manipulating MLAs to make Sachin Pilot the new Chief Minister.

    Political observers are linking Maken’s letter to the pressure by the Pilot camp for action against Shanti Dhariwal, Mahesh Joshi and Dharmendra Rathore before Rahul Gandhi’s visit.

    Apart from inaction against the three leaders, Maken is also angry with the trio being made the main organisers for Rahul’s visit as he pointed out in his letter. The way Maken expressed displeasure to the national president for not taking action against the rebels, reveals that he is in the mood to keep alive the chapter of leadership change in Rajasthan.

    On September 25, the resignations of the MLAs of the Gehlot faction were handed over to the Speaker but they have not been withdrawn yet. Now, the Pilot camp is demanding a change of CM even as resignations of the MLAs from Gehlot’s camp are kept with the Speaker. These resignations are seen as a pressure tactic to prevent any move to change the CM.

    On the resignation of Ajay Maken, Pilot supporter and MLA Ved Prakash Solanki said that “Maken has left the post of state in charge after being hurt by the incident of 25 September and that is a matter of shame for us.”

    Also, Pilot supporter MLA Khiladi Lal Bairwa said that “Maken had to say that it has been 51 days since September 25 and no action was taken.  The high command accepted that three people were responsible but no action against all three for 51 days is a serious matter. Whatever changes have to be made should be done before Rahul Gandhi’s visit and immediate action should be taken against all the three leaders.”

    Before the start of Rahul’s visit, the estrangement between former Deputy CM Sachin Pilot and Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot is intensifying.

    Pilot did not attend the party’s meeting on Friday on preparations for the Bharat Jodo Yatra and CM Gehlot again targeted Pilot without naming him. Gehlot wants show cause notices to be given to party leaders, office bearers and public representatives who were absent from the meeting for Bharat Jodo Yatra. 

    Political analysts believe the real reason behind Maken’s resignation is to revive the demand for a change of CM in Rajasthan. Maken has raised questions on the Gehlot faction and made it an issue of the authority of the High Command. Though Maken has not come to Rajasthan after September 25, the party leadership has tried to defuse the controversy for by making him a star campaigner for the Sardarshahar by-election.

    Amidst discussions about Maken’s offer to quit, PCC chief Govind Singh Dotasara said “those who are not angry, how to convince them?”

    Dotasara said that Maken is in charge of the Rajasthan Congress and that’s why he is on the list of star campaigners for the Sardarshahar by-election.

    Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra will enter Rajasthan from Jhalawar and cover a total distance of 521 kilometres through Kota, Bundi, Sawai Madhopur, Dausa and Alwar districts and enter Haryana.

    The state Congress has kept Ministers Shantilal Dhariwal and Mahesh Joshi and RTDC Chairman Dharmendra Rathod away from this visit so that no new controversy arises. The State Congress has constituted a 32-member committee for the preparations for this yatra.

    JAIPUR: Amid the tussle between supporters of the Gehlot-Pilot groups, the political temperature in Rajasthan is heating up before the entry of Congress MP Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra in the state.

    Congress in-charge Ajay Maken’s offer to resign, 15 days before Rahul Gandhi’s arrival has led to many questions. Is it just a coincidence or was it done intentionally?

    Angry over the lack of action against three rebel leaders of the Gehlot faction for the uproar on September 25 despite Mallikarjun  Kharge becoming the national president, Maken wrote a letter to the party president on November 8, offering to quit the post of Rajasthan in charge.

    Ajay Maken was an observer along with the current president Kharge for the Legislature Party meeting in Jaipur on 25 September. MLAs of the Gehlot faction had boycotted that meeting.

    After this, the rift in the state unit grew so serious that CM Gehlot had to apologize to Sonia Gandhi. It was on the basis of Kharge and Maken’s report that notices were issued to ministers Shanti Dhariwal and Mahesh Joshi and  RTDC chairman Dharmendra Rathore who were held responsible for the boycott of the Legislature Party meeting. Though the three leaders replied, the matter has been put in cold storage.

    The Gehlot camp had even accused Maken of manipulating MLAs to make Sachin Pilot the new Chief Minister.

    Political observers are linking Maken’s letter to the pressure by the Pilot camp for action against Shanti Dhariwal, Mahesh Joshi and Dharmendra Rathore before Rahul Gandhi’s visit.

    Apart from inaction against the three leaders, Maken is also angry with the trio being made the main organisers for Rahul’s visit as he pointed out in his letter. The way Maken expressed displeasure to the national president for not taking action against the rebels, reveals that he is in the mood to keep alive the chapter of leadership change in Rajasthan.

    On September 25, the resignations of the MLAs of the Gehlot faction were handed over to the Speaker but they have not been withdrawn yet. Now, the Pilot camp is demanding a change of CM even as resignations of the MLAs from Gehlot’s camp are kept with the Speaker. These resignations are seen as a pressure tactic to prevent any move to change the CM.

    On the resignation of Ajay Maken, Pilot supporter and MLA Ved Prakash Solanki said that “Maken has left the post of state in charge after being hurt by the incident of 25 September and that is a matter of shame for us.”

    Also, Pilot supporter MLA Khiladi Lal Bairwa said that “Maken had to say that it has been 51 days since September 25 and no action was taken.  The high command accepted that three people were responsible but no action against all three for 51 days is a serious matter. Whatever changes have to be made should be done before Rahul Gandhi’s visit and immediate action should be taken against all the three leaders.”

    Before the start of Rahul’s visit, the estrangement between former Deputy CM Sachin Pilot and Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot is intensifying.

    Pilot did not attend the party’s meeting on Friday on preparations for the Bharat Jodo Yatra and CM Gehlot again targeted Pilot without naming him. Gehlot wants show cause notices to be given to party leaders, office bearers and public representatives who were absent from the meeting for Bharat Jodo Yatra. 

    Political analysts believe the real reason behind Maken’s resignation is to revive the demand for a change of CM in Rajasthan. Maken has raised questions on the Gehlot faction and made it an issue of the authority of the High Command. Though Maken has not come to Rajasthan after September 25, the party leadership has tried to defuse the controversy for by making him a star campaigner for the Sardarshahar by-election.

    Amidst discussions about Maken’s offer to quit, PCC chief Govind Singh Dotasara said “those who are not angry, how to convince them?”

    Dotasara said that Maken is in charge of the Rajasthan Congress and that’s why he is on the list of star campaigners for the Sardarshahar by-election.

    Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra will enter Rajasthan from Jhalawar and cover a total distance of 521 kilometres through Kota, Bundi, Sawai Madhopur, Dausa and Alwar districts and enter Haryana.

    The state Congress has kept Ministers Shantilal Dhariwal and Mahesh Joshi and RTDC Chairman Dharmendra Rathod away from this visit so that no new controversy arises. The State Congress has constituted a 32-member committee for the preparations for this yatra.

  • Rahul can challenge Modi in 2024, but common face will be decided by opposition parties: Gehlot

    Gehlot, a senior Congress observer for the Gujarat Assembly elections, said the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is misleading the people, asserting that Congress will perform well in the western state.

  • Chief Ministers of Delhi, Punjab and Rajasthan to address rallies in poll-bound Gujarat

    By PTI

    AHMEDABAD: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, his Punjab counterpart Bhagwant Mann and Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot will address different rallies in poll-bound Gujarat on Sunday.

    Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders Kejriwal and Mann will jointly address two rallies in Palitana town of Bhavnagar and Dhoraji in Rajkot district.

    The two AAP leaders are on a three-day visit to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-ruled Gujarat from Friday.

    AAP national convener Kejriwal has visited Gujarat multiple times in the recent past and offered a number of ‘guarantees’ to the people of the state if his party is voted to power.

    Rajasthan Chief Minister and Congress veteran Gehlot will also address three rallies in Gujarat on Sunday, the third day of his visit to the state where polls to the 182-member Assembly are due this year-end.

    He will first address a public gathering at Virampur in Banaskantha, followed by rallies at Khedbrahma in Sabarkantha district and Bhiloda in Aravalli district.

    On Saturday, Gehlot claimed the BJP was getting 95 per cent of the total donations made through electoral bonds as donors were not providing funds to other parties out of fear.

    He accused the BJP of even “threatening” corporates, who wish to donate to the Congress and other political parties.

    He also targeted the AAP and its chief Kejriwal, saying they spend money for suppressing any negative news against them.

    The schedule for th Gujarat Assembly polls is yet to be announced.

    AHMEDABAD: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, his Punjab counterpart Bhagwant Mann and Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot will address different rallies in poll-bound Gujarat on Sunday.

    Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders Kejriwal and Mann will jointly address two rallies in Palitana town of Bhavnagar and Dhoraji in Rajkot district.

    The two AAP leaders are on a three-day visit to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-ruled Gujarat from Friday.

    AAP national convener Kejriwal has visited Gujarat multiple times in the recent past and offered a number of ‘guarantees’ to the people of the state if his party is voted to power.

    Rajasthan Chief Minister and Congress veteran Gehlot will also address three rallies in Gujarat on Sunday, the third day of his visit to the state where polls to the 182-member Assembly are due this year-end.

    He will first address a public gathering at Virampur in Banaskantha, followed by rallies at Khedbrahma in Sabarkantha district and Bhiloda in Aravalli district.

    On Saturday, Gehlot claimed the BJP was getting 95 per cent of the total donations made through electoral bonds as donors were not providing funds to other parties out of fear.

    He accused the BJP of even “threatening” corporates, who wish to donate to the Congress and other political parties.

    He also targeted the AAP and its chief Kejriwal, saying they spend money for suppressing any negative news against them.

    The schedule for th Gujarat Assembly polls is yet to be announced.

  • 95 per cent donations through electoral bonds going to BJP: Ashok Gehlot

    By PTI

    SURAT: Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Saturday claimed that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is getting 95 per cent of the total donations made through electoral bonds as donors are not providing funds to other parties out of fear.

    Addressing a press conference here as part of the Congress’s campaign for the upcoming Gujarat Assembly polls, the senior party leader accused the BJP of even “threatening” corporates, who wish to donate to Congress and other political parties.

    He also targeted the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and its chief Arvind Kejriwal, saying they spend money to suppress any negative news against them.

    “If the donation is given to other parties, the Enforcement Directorate and Income Tax Department will come knocking on the doors of the donors. In our democracy, even donations are going to one party only. They have amassed crores of rupees, which they use to build five-star party offices across the country,” Gehlot alleged.

    “Following the introduction of electoral bonds, 95 per cent of the total donations are going to BJP. Donors are not giving to other parties out of fear.”

    “BJP has introduced a model wherein money collected through donations is being used to change state governments, as they did in Maharashtra and Karnataka,” he claimed.

    Accusing the ruling BJP of being a “fascist” force, Gehlot said the party wins elections on religious lines instead of any policy, programme or principles.

    “Gujarat is the land of Mahatma Gandhi. But there is an atmosphere of violence and unrest here. The situation is dangerous for democracy. All sections of the society are unhappy with BJP. Time has come to change this regime and Congress is ready to form the next government,” he added.

    State BJP leaders were not available for comment on his allegations.

    Gehlot, who is Congress’s senior observer for the upcoming Gujarat Assembly elections, also accused the AAP and its national convener Kejriwal of controlling the media through money.

    “What Kejriwal is doing is also dangerous for democracy. They spend money for suppressing any negative news against them and run their announcements continuously. Their TV interviews are also fake. They created an atmosphere during the last three months that everything has changed (in their favour). But that is not true. People know their tricks,” he said.

    SURAT: Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Saturday claimed that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is getting 95 per cent of the total donations made through electoral bonds as donors are not providing funds to other parties out of fear.

    Addressing a press conference here as part of the Congress’s campaign for the upcoming Gujarat Assembly polls, the senior party leader accused the BJP of even “threatening” corporates, who wish to donate to Congress and other political parties.

    He also targeted the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and its chief Arvind Kejriwal, saying they spend money to suppress any negative news against them.

    “If the donation is given to other parties, the Enforcement Directorate and Income Tax Department will come knocking on the doors of the donors. In our democracy, even donations are going to one party only. They have amassed crores of rupees, which they use to build five-star party offices across the country,” Gehlot alleged.

    “Following the introduction of electoral bonds, 95 per cent of the total donations are going to BJP. Donors are not giving to other parties out of fear.”

    “BJP has introduced a model wherein money collected through donations is being used to change state governments, as they did in Maharashtra and Karnataka,” he claimed.

    Accusing the ruling BJP of being a “fascist” force, Gehlot said the party wins elections on religious lines instead of any policy, programme or principles.

    “Gujarat is the land of Mahatma Gandhi. But there is an atmosphere of violence and unrest here. The situation is dangerous for democracy. All sections of the society are unhappy with BJP. Time has come to change this regime and Congress is ready to form the next government,” he added.

    State BJP leaders were not available for comment on his allegations.

    Gehlot, who is Congress’s senior observer for the upcoming Gujarat Assembly elections, also accused the AAP and its national convener Kejriwal of controlling the media through money.

    “What Kejriwal is doing is also dangerous for democracy. They spend money for suppressing any negative news against them and run their announcements continuously. Their TV interviews are also fake. They created an atmosphere during the last three months that everything has changed (in their favour). But that is not true. People know their tricks,” he said.

  • Rajasthan govt approves rules aimed at regularising contractual staff, calls it ‘Diwali gift’

    By PTI

    JAIPUR: Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Saturday approved a proposal to implement the ‘Rajasthan Contractual Hiring to Civil Post Rules, 2022’, a step aimed at regularising contractual staff.

    These rules will be applicable to contract workers engaged in various departments of the state. More than 1.10 lakh contract workers will be benefited, according to an official statement issued here.

    An official spokesperson said the decision would bring light in the lives of these contract workers on the occasion of Diwali.

    Contract workers have continued to play an important role in the implementation of various welfare and social security schemes of the central and the state governments but their social security was not taken care of, he said.

    In many states, even their honorarium was not increased. This decision taken by the Rajasthan government will ensure social security of more than 1.10 lakh contractual workers of the state, the spokesperson said.

    He said that with the implementation of the Rajasthan Contractual Hiring to Civil Post Rules, 2022, the recruitment of contractual workers will be done in a transparent manner and reservation will also be taken care of.

    In the future, contractual workers completing five years of work will get confirmation if the posts are regularised.

    They can be made permanent after a screening process, the official said.

    The honorarium of these contractual workers has been fixed by considering their equivalent permanent posts, apart from the provision of special pay protection, he added.

    On becoming regular, these personnel will be given old pension scheme benefits, the official said.

    Chief Minister Gehlot had announced the creation of department-wise cadre of contract workers in the budget of 2021-22 and announced a 20 per cent increase in their honorarium in the budget for the year 2022-23.

    JAIPUR: Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Saturday approved a proposal to implement the ‘Rajasthan Contractual Hiring to Civil Post Rules, 2022’, a step aimed at regularising contractual staff.

    These rules will be applicable to contract workers engaged in various departments of the state. More than 1.10 lakh contract workers will be benefited, according to an official statement issued here.

    An official spokesperson said the decision would bring light in the lives of these contract workers on the occasion of Diwali.

    Contract workers have continued to play an important role in the implementation of various welfare and social security schemes of the central and the state governments but their social security was not taken care of, he said.

    In many states, even their honorarium was not increased. This decision taken by the Rajasthan government will ensure social security of more than 1.10 lakh contractual workers of the state, the spokesperson said.

    He said that with the implementation of the Rajasthan Contractual Hiring to Civil Post Rules, 2022, the recruitment of contractual workers will be done in a transparent manner and reservation will also be taken care of.

    In the future, contractual workers completing five years of work will get confirmation if the posts are regularised.

    They can be made permanent after a screening process, the official said.

    The honorarium of these contractual workers has been fixed by considering their equivalent permanent posts, apart from the provision of special pay protection, he added.

    On becoming regular, these personnel will be given old pension scheme benefits, the official said.

    Chief Minister Gehlot had announced the creation of department-wise cadre of contract workers in the budget of 2021-22 and announced a 20 per cent increase in their honorarium in the budget for the year 2022-23.

  • Gehlot fires back at Rathore over comments on Kharge, says BJP leaders should read history

    By PTI

    JAIPUR: Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Thursday hit back at BJP MP Rajyavardhan Rathore over his comments on new Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge and said leaders of the saffron party should read history before speaking.

    Rathore had on Wednesday called newly elected Congress president Kharge a “rubber stamp” and alleged that the party’s internal polls to elect a new chief were a “fraud”.

    In his response, Gehlot told reporters, “These people have no shame. New boys have come. They do not understand that they should read history and then learn to speak so that their image is not spoiled. They have no knowledge. What is a rubber stamp? Sonia Gandhi herself went to his (Mallikarjun Kharje) place yesterday (on Wednesday).”

    READ HERE | Tough road ahead for Mallikarjun Kharge as challenges galore for Congress

    Kharge won the polls for the post of Congress president, the results of which were announced on Wednesday. He was pitted against Shashi Tharoor.

    Gehlot, long known as a loyalist to the first family of the country’s oldest party, added that if there was any leader in India who commanded respect, it was Sonia Gandhi.

    “She refused to become PM, got the UPA (United Progressive Alliance) government formed at the Centre twice and also got many state governments formed,” he said.

    The chief minister also lashed out at BJP leaders questioning what happened in the 70 years after Independence and said everything that has happened has taken place in the 70 years.

    “Not even a needle used to be manufactured when the country got Independence. These people are misleading the public and youths. They are destroying the young generation in the name of religion and caste,” he said.

    Gehlot added that the BJP should not indulge in ‘panchayati’ (politics) about the Congress and instead take care of its own house.

    The veteran Congress leader also attacked the BJP over some of its leaders allegedly acting as informers of the British, while adding that the history of the Congress’ sacrifice dated back to the pre-Independence era.

    Gehlot was referring to some leaders of the RSS, the BJP’s ideological mentor, who allegedly did not participate in the freedom movement and acted as informers of the British.

    The chief minister also targeted Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur over his comment on the old pension scheme and said he had once advised the BJP leader to examine the scheme and introduce it in his state in the interest of government employees.

    The Rajasthan chief minister said his government had taken many initiatives and launched several schemes that should be the Centre should study so that they could be implemented at the national level.

    He added that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had been the chief minister of Gujarat and kept reminding people about the Gujarat model.

    Gehlot advised Modi to study the Rajasthan model and compare it with the Gujarat model.

    “The Centre should implement schemes and programmes launched by the Rajasthan government at the national level. If they have anything good to offer from the Gujarat model, they should tell us, we will implement those too,” he said.

    When asked about the BJP’s allegation that the Rajiv Gandhi Rural Olympic Games was organised to take political advantage, Gehlot said there was nothing wrong if the government took political advantage of its good works.

    “Are we saints? What is wrong if good works and good governance give us an advantage? We are aiming to repeat the government in the next elections,” he added.

    Earlier, speaking at the closing ceremony of the Rajiv Gandhi Rural Olympic Games at Sawai Mansingh Stadium here, Gehlot said criticism should be taken in good spirit as it made democracy stronger.

    The chief minister later visited Indira Rasoi at Jal Mahal and talked to the people eating there.

    Food is served at Rs 8 under the state government’s Indira Rasoi scheme.

    Gehlot said he had appealed to public representatives to have food at Indira Rasoi at least once a month so that the quality of food was maintained.

    He also spoke to reporters after visiting the Rasoi and said that the Centre should tell BJP-ruled states to restore peace and harmony.

    Gehlot said there was tension, religious and caste difference in the country.

    He added that this should stop and peace and harmony be restored.

    JAIPUR: Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Thursday hit back at BJP MP Rajyavardhan Rathore over his comments on new Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge and said leaders of the saffron party should read history before speaking.

    Rathore had on Wednesday called newly elected Congress president Kharge a “rubber stamp” and alleged that the party’s internal polls to elect a new chief were a “fraud”.

    In his response, Gehlot told reporters, “These people have no shame. New boys have come. They do not understand that they should read history and then learn to speak so that their image is not spoiled. They have no knowledge. What is a rubber stamp? Sonia Gandhi herself went to his (Mallikarjun Kharje) place yesterday (on Wednesday).”

    READ HERE | Tough road ahead for Mallikarjun Kharge as challenges galore for Congress

    Kharge won the polls for the post of Congress president, the results of which were announced on Wednesday. He was pitted against Shashi Tharoor.

    Gehlot, long known as a loyalist to the first family of the country’s oldest party, added that if there was any leader in India who commanded respect, it was Sonia Gandhi.

    “She refused to become PM, got the UPA (United Progressive Alliance) government formed at the Centre twice and also got many state governments formed,” he said.

    The chief minister also lashed out at BJP leaders questioning what happened in the 70 years after Independence and said everything that has happened has taken place in the 70 years.

    “Not even a needle used to be manufactured when the country got Independence. These people are misleading the public and youths. They are destroying the young generation in the name of religion and caste,” he said.

    Gehlot added that the BJP should not indulge in ‘panchayati’ (politics) about the Congress and instead take care of its own house.

    The veteran Congress leader also attacked the BJP over some of its leaders allegedly acting as informers of the British, while adding that the history of the Congress’ sacrifice dated back to the pre-Independence era.

    Gehlot was referring to some leaders of the RSS, the BJP’s ideological mentor, who allegedly did not participate in the freedom movement and acted as informers of the British.

    The chief minister also targeted Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur over his comment on the old pension scheme and said he had once advised the BJP leader to examine the scheme and introduce it in his state in the interest of government employees.

    The Rajasthan chief minister said his government had taken many initiatives and launched several schemes that should be the Centre should study so that they could be implemented at the national level.

    He added that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had been the chief minister of Gujarat and kept reminding people about the Gujarat model.

    Gehlot advised Modi to study the Rajasthan model and compare it with the Gujarat model.

    “The Centre should implement schemes and programmes launched by the Rajasthan government at the national level. If they have anything good to offer from the Gujarat model, they should tell us, we will implement those too,” he said.

    When asked about the BJP’s allegation that the Rajiv Gandhi Rural Olympic Games was organised to take political advantage, Gehlot said there was nothing wrong if the government took political advantage of its good works.

    “Are we saints? What is wrong if good works and good governance give us an advantage? We are aiming to repeat the government in the next elections,” he added.

    Earlier, speaking at the closing ceremony of the Rajiv Gandhi Rural Olympic Games at Sawai Mansingh Stadium here, Gehlot said criticism should be taken in good spirit as it made democracy stronger.

    The chief minister later visited Indira Rasoi at Jal Mahal and talked to the people eating there.

    Food is served at Rs 8 under the state government’s Indira Rasoi scheme.

    Gehlot said he had appealed to public representatives to have food at Indira Rasoi at least once a month so that the quality of food was maintained.

    He also spoke to reporters after visiting the Rasoi and said that the Centre should tell BJP-ruled states to restore peace and harmony.

    Gehlot said there was tension, religious and caste difference in the country.

    He added that this should stop and peace and harmony be restored.

  • Politics all about multiplication, division, not all of what is seen is true: Gehlot

    “People have an extraordinary common sense and they understand everything,” he told reporters.

  • ‘Unusual that MLAs get agitated over new CM suggestion’: Rajasthan CM Gehlot takes a dig at Pilot 

    Express News Service

    JAIPUR: Amid the ongoing tussle over the post of Chief Minister in Rajasthan, Ashok Gehlot once again targeted Sachin Pilot without naming him on Sunday. CM Gehlot said it is unusual that MLAs get agitated over a new CM name as normally 80 per cent of MLAs generally switch sides when a new CM comes.

    “I was in Jaisalmer. I could not guess but the MLAs sensed who was going to be the new chief minister and they reacted strongly,” Gehlot said without naming Sachin Pilot. In explaining the revolt by the MLAs last Sunday that put him out of the race for the Congress president post, he skipped mentioning the name of Sachin Pilot who was tipped to succeed him in case he had resigned as the CM to contest for the Congress president election.

    After the revolt in Rajasthan a week ago and being out of the Congress president race, Ashok Gehlot spoke to the media on Gandhi Jayanti and said, “I had already conveyed to madam (Sonia Gandhi) and Ajay Maken in August that it is not necessary that I should be the Chief Minister. I told them that I am ready to resign as CM. I said I will support and campaign because it should be our aim to revive the Congress party.”

    Despite his apology to Sonia Gandhi, CM Gehlot also asserted that “I will not leave the side of those 102 MLAs who helped in saving the government during the crisis two years ago.”  He said that if he had become the National President of Congress, it would have been unfair to 102 MLAs, so “I cannot go anywhere by cheating. That’s why I agreed to apologize to the party high command.”

    CM Gehlot has also raised questions about the leaders who came as observers. Without naming Ajay Maken, Gehlot said that “Observer is a very big post, he comes as a representative of high command. So observers should also work according to the dignity and aura of high command.”

    ALSO READ | Cong polls: Gehlot throws his weight behind Kharge, says Tharoor belongs to elite class 

    CM Gehlot also said, “When a one-line resolution has to be passed by calling a meeting of the legislature party, the observers will come. Observers come only on the basis of the Congress president and we treat them in the same manner. The observer should also work according to the thinking and behaviour of the Congress president.” But added, “Rajasthan’s case has been different. This will be written in history.  Why this happened, what were the reasons, it should be researched. I was on a tour, so I didn’t know.  Such a situation came, all our leaders should think what happened?”

    Gehlot said that BJP is again trying to topple the government in Rajasthan.  Referring to the political crisis caused by the rebellion of 19 MLAs including former Deputy CM Pilot in 2020, CM Gehlot said, “at that time some of our MLAs had a meeting with Amit Shah and ate sweets from his hands. In that meeting, BJP leaders Dharmendra Pradhan and Zafar Islam were also present. There was a long conversation between them, the government was also in trouble and we had to keep MLAs barricaded in hotels. It lasted for weeks and then the government was saved.”

    CM Gehlot attacked the BJP over horse-trading.  Alleging that to topple his government, offers of 10-10 crores were made to the MLAs Gehlot said that after Governor Kalraj Mishra fixed the date for convening the assembly session, 30 to 40 crores were offered to the MLAs to switch sides but our MLAs saved the government. 

    ALSO READ | Gehlot projects ‘All Is Well’ despite uncertainty over Rajasthan CM Post

    CM Gehlot said that it is necessary for Congress to win the upcoming assembly elections in  Rajasthan as they have a special significance for the party across the country. Given Gehlot’s mood, it seems that despite his apology to Sonia Gandhi and his statement that the legislature party meeting will be held again and a one-line resolution will be passed, the Congress crisis in Rajasthan remains quite grave.

    JAIPUR: Amid the ongoing tussle over the post of Chief Minister in Rajasthan, Ashok Gehlot once again targeted Sachin Pilot without naming him on Sunday. CM Gehlot said it is unusual that MLAs get agitated over a new CM name as normally 80 per cent of MLAs generally switch sides when a new CM comes.

    “I was in Jaisalmer. I could not guess but the MLAs sensed who was going to be the new chief minister and they reacted strongly,” Gehlot said without naming Sachin Pilot. In explaining the revolt by the MLAs last Sunday that put him out of the race for the Congress president post, he skipped mentioning the name of Sachin Pilot who was tipped to succeed him in case he had resigned as the CM to contest for the Congress president election.

    After the revolt in Rajasthan a week ago and being out of the Congress president race, Ashok Gehlot spoke to the media on Gandhi Jayanti and said, “I had already conveyed to madam (Sonia Gandhi) and Ajay Maken in August that it is not necessary that I should be the Chief Minister. I told them that I am ready to resign as CM. I said I will support and campaign because it should be our aim to revive the Congress party.”

    Despite his apology to Sonia Gandhi, CM Gehlot also asserted that “I will not leave the side of those 102 MLAs who helped in saving the government during the crisis two years ago.”  He said that if he had become the National President of Congress, it would have been unfair to 102 MLAs, so “I cannot go anywhere by cheating. That’s why I agreed to apologize to the party high command.”

    CM Gehlot has also raised questions about the leaders who came as observers. Without naming Ajay Maken, Gehlot said that “Observer is a very big post, he comes as a representative of high command. So observers should also work according to the dignity and aura of high command.”

    ALSO READ | Cong polls: Gehlot throws his weight behind Kharge, says Tharoor belongs to elite class 

    CM Gehlot also said, “When a one-line resolution has to be passed by calling a meeting of the legislature party, the observers will come. Observers come only on the basis of the Congress president and we treat them in the same manner. The observer should also work according to the thinking and behaviour of the Congress president.” But added, “Rajasthan’s case has been different. This will be written in history.  Why this happened, what were the reasons, it should be researched. I was on a tour, so I didn’t know.  Such a situation came, all our leaders should think what happened?”

    Gehlot said that BJP is again trying to topple the government in Rajasthan.  Referring to the political crisis caused by the rebellion of 19 MLAs including former Deputy CM Pilot in 2020, CM Gehlot said, “at that time some of our MLAs had a meeting with Amit Shah and ate sweets from his hands. In that meeting, BJP leaders Dharmendra Pradhan and Zafar Islam were also present. There was a long conversation between them, the government was also in trouble and we had to keep MLAs barricaded in hotels. It lasted for weeks and then the government was saved.”

    CM Gehlot attacked the BJP over horse-trading.  Alleging that to topple his government, offers of 10-10 crores were made to the MLAs Gehlot said that after Governor Kalraj Mishra fixed the date for convening the assembly session, 30 to 40 crores were offered to the MLAs to switch sides but our MLAs saved the government. 

    ALSO READ | Gehlot projects ‘All Is Well’ despite uncertainty over Rajasthan CM Post

    CM Gehlot said that it is necessary for Congress to win the upcoming assembly elections in  Rajasthan as they have a special significance for the party across the country. Given Gehlot’s mood, it seems that despite his apology to Sonia Gandhi and his statement that the legislature party meeting will be held again and a one-line resolution will be passed, the Congress crisis in Rajasthan remains quite grave.

  • Cong polls: Gehlot throws his weight behind Kharge, says Tharoor belongs to elite class 

    By PTI

    JAIPUR: Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Sunday said veteran party leader Mallikarjun Kharge has the experience to strengthen the Congress and would emerge as a clear winner in the party presidential poll, while his rival in the race Shashi Tharoor belongs to the “elite class”.

    “Kharge has a long political experience. He has a clean heart, he comes from the Dalit community and (Kharge contesting election) is being welcomed everywhere,” he told reporters after paying tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at the secretariat here.

    Gehlot, one of the proposers of Kharge, said Tharoor is also a good man and has good thoughts but he is from the elite class.

    ALSO READ | Gehlot projects ‘All Is Well’ despite uncertainty over Rajasthan CM Post

    “Tharoor is a class apart; he is from elite class but the kind of experience which is needed to strengthen the party at booth, block and district levels, that is with Kharge and cannot be compared to Shashi Tharoor,” he said “Therefore, it will naturally be a one-sided contest for Kharge,” he said.

    Kharge and Tharoor are in a direct contest for the Congress president’s post. Kharge has emerged as the clear favourite for the Congress president’ post.

    Kharge has resigned as the Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, sources said on Saturday.

    Kharge’s resignation, which the 80-year-old leader sent to Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Friday night, is in line with the party’s declared ‘One person, One post’ principle that was announced at the Udaipur ‘Chintan Shivir’ in May.

    The polling, if needed, will be held on October 17. The counting of votes will be taken up on October 19 and the results will be declared the same day.

    More than 9,000 Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) delegates will vote in the election.

    JAIPUR: Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Sunday said veteran party leader Mallikarjun Kharge has the experience to strengthen the Congress and would emerge as a clear winner in the party presidential poll, while his rival in the race Shashi Tharoor belongs to the “elite class”.

    “Kharge has a long political experience. He has a clean heart, he comes from the Dalit community and (Kharge contesting election) is being welcomed everywhere,” he told reporters after paying tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at the secretariat here.

    Gehlot, one of the proposers of Kharge, said Tharoor is also a good man and has good thoughts but he is from the elite class.

    ALSO READ | Gehlot projects ‘All Is Well’ despite uncertainty over Rajasthan CM Post

    “Tharoor is a class apart; he is from elite class but the kind of experience which is needed to strengthen the party at booth, block and district levels, that is with Kharge and cannot be compared to Shashi Tharoor,” he said “Therefore, it will naturally be a one-sided contest for Kharge,” he said.

    Kharge and Tharoor are in a direct contest for the Congress president’s post. Kharge has emerged as the clear favourite for the Congress president’ post.

    Kharge has resigned as the Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, sources said on Saturday.

    Kharge’s resignation, which the 80-year-old leader sent to Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Friday night, is in line with the party’s declared ‘One person, One post’ principle that was announced at the Udaipur ‘Chintan Shivir’ in May.

    The polling, if needed, will be held on October 17. The counting of votes will be taken up on October 19 and the results will be declared the same day.

    More than 9,000 Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) delegates will vote in the election.

  • Gehlot projects ‘All Is Well’ despite uncertainty over Rajasthan CM Post

    Express News Service

    JAIPUR: While there is much doubt on whether he will continue as Chief Minister, Ashok Gehlot is making every effort to project that ‘All Is Well ‘ and things are quite normal in Rajasthan. After returning from Delhi, he was in Bikaner Division on Saturday for events connected to rural Olympics in the state.

    Meanwhile, the verbal war between the Gehlot and Sachin Pilot factions has also subsided in the past two days after the AICC issued a stern advisory. Both camps are now following a ‘wait and watch’ policy and waiting for the next move of the High Command.

    In the midst of the political turmoil in Congress since the storm last Sunday, discussions on a change of leadership in the state are continuing in full swing. In this era of crisis, the Chief Minister’s visit to Bikaner is in the discussion.

    CM Gehlot on his tour of the Bikaner division looked confident and said that the Congress government will complete its full tenure of five years, and “the last budget of the government will be completely dedicated to the youth.”

    Last Sunday, the CLP meeting called for the selection of a new Chief Minister who was boycotted by MLAs supporting Gehlot.  Among the three conditions that were put in front of the observers sent by AICC, they also included the condition that CM Gehlot should not be changed till the next budget. Due to these conditions, the observers sent by the AICC had to be returned.

    After apologising to Sonia Gandhi in Delhi on Thursday, CM Gehlot participated in rural Olympics in Bikaner, Hanumangarh and Ganganagar districts on Saturday. During this trip, ministers BD Kalla, Bhanwar Singh Bhati and Lalchand Kataria were present with the CM.

    With CM Gehlot out of the race for the next National President of Congress, he reiterated that he will never be far from Rajasthan. He asserted that he hails from the Marwar region of Rajasthan and is not going anywhere from here. To express his rising confidence, CM Gehlot has also restarted his attacks on BJP which he has been doing even before Sunday’s incident. He also accused the BJP of trying to topple his government through horse-trading and praised Rahul Gandhi. CM Gehlot also said that BJP’s plans will never be successful during his stay.

    “The Modi government at the Center has done the work of dividing the people in the country, but the Bharat Jodo Yatra of Rahul Gandhi will unite the country in a strong thread of unity. The BJP is frustrated by the huge public support for Rahul Gandhi’s Yatra,” claimed Gehlot.

    Sources claim that CM Gehlot has offered to resign during his meeting with Sonia Gandhi and some say that AICC observers may be sent soon to Jaipur again to search for a new Chief Minister in place of Gehlot. In case there is a consensus on the name of the new chief minister, Gehlot may be asked to submit his resignation to the governor. 

    Gehlot’s attempts to save his Chief ministerial chair are still going on . However, his inclusion among the proposers for Mallikarjun Kharge, considered to be the candidate of the Gandhi family for the post of National President, is being seen as a sign that Gehlot may be pardoned for the revolt by MLAS last Sunday.

    For the time being, CM Gehlot’s statements and body language seem to be much better than what was obvious after his meeting with Sonia Gandhi in Delhi on 29 September. After his public apology, it seems the crisis of the Congress in Rajasthan has subsided at the moment and the CM may continue in his post for some time.

    Experts believe that the change may not happen suddenly as the Congress leadership is not in a position to do much in Rajasthan or impose their will on Ashok Gehlot very easily at the moment. If Congress’s high command forcefully changes the leadership, without Gehlot’s consent, it may become difficult to save the government in the state.

    And after going to Delhi and submitting his apology, he has got time for himself. Secondly, he will remain in the post till the high command is in a position to locate his replacement in the state. Due to the opposition of the MLAs against Sachin Pilot, if a third person is made CM, then the purpose of the Congress High Command does not get solved. Also, it may not even guarantee that the ruling Congress will be able to run the government in the election year. 

    So while the Gandhi family may not want to see Gehlot on the CM’s chair for long, they do not have any easy options – and all this may help CM Gehlot to continue for a while.

    JAIPUR: While there is much doubt on whether he will continue as Chief Minister, Ashok Gehlot is making every effort to project that ‘All Is Well ‘ and things are quite normal in Rajasthan. After returning from Delhi, he was in Bikaner Division on Saturday for events connected to rural Olympics in the state.

    Meanwhile, the verbal war between the Gehlot and Sachin Pilot factions has also subsided in the past two days after the AICC issued a stern advisory. Both camps are now following a ‘wait and watch’ policy and waiting for the next move of the High Command.

    In the midst of the political turmoil in Congress since the storm last Sunday, discussions on a change of leadership in the state are continuing in full swing. In this era of crisis, the Chief Minister’s visit to Bikaner is in the discussion.

    CM Gehlot on his tour of the Bikaner division looked confident and said that the Congress government will complete its full tenure of five years, and “the last budget of the government will be completely dedicated to the youth.”

    Last Sunday, the CLP meeting called for the selection of a new Chief Minister who was boycotted by MLAs supporting Gehlot.  Among the three conditions that were put in front of the observers sent by AICC, they also included the condition that CM Gehlot should not be changed till the next budget. Due to these conditions, the observers sent by the AICC had to be returned.

    After apologising to Sonia Gandhi in Delhi on Thursday, CM Gehlot participated in rural Olympics in Bikaner, Hanumangarh and Ganganagar districts on Saturday. During this trip, ministers BD Kalla, Bhanwar Singh Bhati and Lalchand Kataria were present with the CM.

    With CM Gehlot out of the race for the next National President of Congress, he reiterated that he will never be far from Rajasthan. He asserted that he hails from the Marwar region of Rajasthan and is not going anywhere from here. To express his rising confidence, CM Gehlot has also restarted his attacks on BJP which he has been doing even before Sunday’s incident. He also accused the BJP of trying to topple his government through horse-trading and praised Rahul Gandhi. CM Gehlot also said that BJP’s plans will never be successful during his stay.

    “The Modi government at the Center has done the work of dividing the people in the country, but the Bharat Jodo Yatra of Rahul Gandhi will unite the country in a strong thread of unity. The BJP is frustrated by the huge public support for Rahul Gandhi’s Yatra,” claimed Gehlot.

    Sources claim that CM Gehlot has offered to resign during his meeting with Sonia Gandhi and some say that AICC observers may be sent soon to Jaipur again to search for a new Chief Minister in place of Gehlot. In case there is a consensus on the name of the new chief minister, Gehlot may be asked to submit his resignation to the governor. 

    Gehlot’s attempts to save his Chief ministerial chair are still going on . However, his inclusion among the proposers for Mallikarjun Kharge, considered to be the candidate of the Gandhi family for the post of National President, is being seen as a sign that Gehlot may be pardoned for the revolt by MLAS last Sunday.

    For the time being, CM Gehlot’s statements and body language seem to be much better than what was obvious after his meeting with Sonia Gandhi in Delhi on 29 September. After his public apology, it seems the crisis of the Congress in Rajasthan has subsided at the moment and the CM may continue in his post for some time.

    Experts believe that the change may not happen suddenly as the Congress leadership is not in a position to do much in Rajasthan or impose their will on Ashok Gehlot very easily at the moment. If Congress’s high command forcefully changes the leadership, without Gehlot’s consent, it may become difficult to save the government in the state.

    And after going to Delhi and submitting his apology, he has got time for himself. Secondly, he will remain in the post till the high command is in a position to locate his replacement in the state. Due to the opposition of the MLAs against Sachin Pilot, if a third person is made CM, then the purpose of the Congress High Command does not get solved. Also, it may not even guarantee that the ruling Congress will be able to run the government in the election year. 

    So while the Gandhi family may not want to see Gehlot on the CM’s chair for long, they do not have any easy options – and all this may help CM Gehlot to continue for a while.