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Tag: CP Joshi

  • Rajasthan BJP chief CP Joshi announces new state leaders ahead of upcoming Lok Sabha polls

    Ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) Rajasthan unit president CP Joshi has announced the formation of a new state team, bringing about significant changes.

    Late on Friday night, the list of new state officials of the party was released. It includes 10 state vice-presidents, 5 state secretaries, 13 state ministers, one treasurer, and one assistant treasurer.

    MLA Baba Balak Nath and recently elected Rajya Sabha MP Chunnilal Garasia have been appointed as state vice-presidents of Alwar and Udaipur respectively.Jitendra Gothwal, another legislator, has been assigned the responsibility of state secretary of Sawai Madhopur.

    Former MP Jyoti Mirdha has been appointed as the party’s state Vice president of Nagaur.

    Some current state officials have been given promotions based on their performance, while others have been retained in their current positions.The party’s ex-state President Omprakash Bhadana has been appointed as the State Secretary of Ajmer. Minister Minister Motilal Meena has been made Vice President in place of the General Secretary.The exclusion of some prominent leaders and the elevation of others by the BJP in Rajasthan suggest a calculated effort to bring in fresh perspectives and dynamics within the party ahead of the crucial Lok Sabha elections.

    Meanwhile, Rajasthan BJP Scheduled Caste Morcha State President also announced a fresh list of candidates. Seven state vice presidents were inducted in the new team, including Ramkrishna Verma, Omprakash Jediya, Shailendra Chauhan, BL Naval, Lalit Lakhwal, Bhajanlal Rolan and Anju Jatav were added.

    Three general ministers including Mukesh Garg, Lalaram Berwa and Mukesh Kirad, while seven State Ministers include Sitaram Lugaria, Mukesh Sindal, Sube Singh Marodia, Dinesh Verma, Motandas Nayak, Madan Gopal Jhanjhot and Prakash Meghwal. (ANI)

  • BJP announces two Rajasthan poll panels, Vasundhara Raje missing from both

    Express News Service

    JAIPUR: In a surprising move, the BJP high command has dealt a significant blow to former Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje Scindia. She has been kept out of two crucial committees for the Rajasthan elections. On Thursday, Rajasthan BJP State President CP Joshi announced the manifesto committee and the election management committee for the upcoming Rajasthan assembly polls but conspicuously absent from the list were the names of former CM Vasundhara Raje and any of her prominent supporters. This omission has ignited renewed speculations that the BJP high command has firmly decided to enter the upcoming assembly elections without Raje’s involvement.

    For Vasundhara Raje and her loyalists who had held several shows of strength for the last two years and have been demanding that Raje be declared as CM face for the upcoming elections, this is a major setback. While union minister Arjun Meghwal. has been appointed as the Chairman of the Manifesto Committee, Narayan Pancharia will head the Election Management Committee. Elections in Rajasthan are now four months away and all eyes are now focused on whether BJP will rehabilitate Raje in some other position but for the moment it’s a big jolt for Raje and her loyalists.

    In the manifesto committee, Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal has been appointed as the Convenor of the Sankalp Patra Committee. Joining him are MPs Ghanshyam Tiwari, Kirorilal Meena, National Ministers Alka Gurjar, Prabhulal Saini, and Rakhi Rathod, who have been designated as co-convenors. Meanwhile, Narayan Panchariya has been assigned the role of chairman of the Election Management Committee. Co-convenors for this committee include Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, CM Meena, Kanhaiyalal Bairwa, Rajendra Singh Shekhawat, and Anand Sharma.

    In response to inquiries about Vasundhara Raje’s role in the election, the state president affirmed that there are numerous senior leaders within the party who will actively campaign.

    State party in-charge Arun Singh avoided the question asked about Raje’s role, saying that ‘ she is a senior party leader and all senior leaders will campaign for the party’. Party’s state president CP Joshi and state in-charge Arun Singh announced that these committees have been announced as per the instructions of national president J P Nadda and hoped that the state will get the benefit of the experience of both the committees in the upcoming elections.

    It’s noteworthy that the BJP high command recently entrusted Vasundhara Raje with the responsibility of National Vice President. Coming in an election year, it was seen as a signal that the high command intended to keep Raje away from Rajasthan. In a subsequent development, Raje undertook a two-day visit to Delhi, where she engaged in discussions with several key leaders.

    The strained relationship between Raje and the party’s high command dates back to 2014. During the tenure of Home Minister Amit Shah as the national president of the BJP and Raje as the chief minister, the two leaders often found themselves at odds. Following the BJP’s defeat in Rajasthan in 2018, Raje has been noticeably absent from crucial party events. The high command’s intentions became clear when Rajendra Rathore was appointed the Leader of the Opposition when Gulab Chand Kataria assumed the governorship of Assam, despite Raje.

    Remarkably, this marks the first time in decades that the BJP has refrained from announcing its chief ministerial candidate in Rajasthan. Vasundhara Raje has long been synonymous with the BJP in the state, and more than half of the MLAs and MPs are believed to be in her direct support. Many have publicly expressed their allegiance to Raje. This situation has raised concerns that should the party’s high command proceed with the election without Raje, it might face backlash from both Raje and her supporters. This leads to a significant question: Can Prime Minister Modi alone elevate the BJP’s power in Rajasthan, especially in the face of Chief Minister Gehlot’s efforts to solidify his position through populist initiatives aimed at altering the historical patterns of power transition?

    Meanwhile, some Raje loyalists also point out that while it is surprising that she is being dropped from both these committees but other senior leaders like Gajendra Singh Shekhawat,  leader of opposition Rajendra Rathore, both the former BJP chief and the current party President C P Joshi have all been kept out of these committees. On the condition of anonymity, one of Raje’s supporters said, “Nobody can ignore Vasundhara Raje she is after all the most popular mass leader of the BJP in Rajasthan so wait and watch.”

    Nonetheless, the campaign committee announcement is still pending, marking the third major committee after the resolution declaration and the election management committee. Notably, before the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi served as the coordinator of the campaign committee. Traditionally, the coordinator or chairman of the campaign committee becomes the official face of the party for the election. Experts caution that any conjecture is premature without the announcement of this committee.  

    JAIPUR: In a surprising move, the BJP high command has dealt a significant blow to former Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje Scindia. She has been kept out of two crucial committees for the Rajasthan elections. On Thursday, Rajasthan BJP State President CP Joshi announced the manifesto committee and the election management committee for the upcoming Rajasthan assembly polls but conspicuously absent from the list were the names of former CM Vasundhara Raje and any of her prominent supporters. This omission has ignited renewed speculations that the BJP high command has firmly decided to enter the upcoming assembly elections without Raje’s involvement.

    For Vasundhara Raje and her loyalists who had held several shows of strength for the last two years and have been demanding that Raje be declared as CM face for the upcoming elections, this is a major setback. While union minister Arjun Meghwal. has been appointed as the Chairman of the Manifesto Committee, Narayan Pancharia will head the Election Management Committee. Elections in Rajasthan are now four months away and all eyes are now focused on whether BJP will rehabilitate Raje in some other position but for the moment it’s a big jolt for Raje and her loyalists.

    In the manifesto committee, Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal has been appointed as the Convenor of the Sankalp Patra Committee. Joining him are MPs Ghanshyam Tiwari, Kirorilal Meena, National Ministers Alka Gurjar, Prabhulal Saini, and Rakhi Rathod, who have been designated as co-convenors. Meanwhile, Narayan Panchariya has been assigned the role of chairman of the Election Management Committee. Co-convenors for this committee include Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, CM Meena, Kanhaiyalal Bairwa, Rajendra Singh Shekhawat, and Anand Sharma.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    In response to inquiries about Vasundhara Raje’s role in the election, the state president affirmed that there are numerous senior leaders within the party who will actively campaign.

    State party in-charge Arun Singh avoided the question asked about Raje’s role, saying that ‘ she is a senior party leader and all senior leaders will campaign for the party’. Party’s state president CP Joshi and state in-charge Arun Singh announced that these committees have been announced as per the instructions of national president J P Nadda and hoped that the state will get the benefit of the experience of both the committees in the upcoming elections.

    It’s noteworthy that the BJP high command recently entrusted Vasundhara Raje with the responsibility of National Vice President. Coming in an election year, it was seen as a signal that the high command intended to keep Raje away from Rajasthan. In a subsequent development, Raje undertook a two-day visit to Delhi, where she engaged in discussions with several key leaders.

    The strained relationship between Raje and the party’s high command dates back to 2014. During the tenure of Home Minister Amit Shah as the national president of the BJP and Raje as the chief minister, the two leaders often found themselves at odds. Following the BJP’s defeat in Rajasthan in 2018, Raje has been noticeably absent from crucial party events. The high command’s intentions became clear when Rajendra Rathore was appointed the Leader of the Opposition when Gulab Chand Kataria assumed the governorship of Assam, despite Raje.

    Remarkably, this marks the first time in decades that the BJP has refrained from announcing its chief ministerial candidate in Rajasthan. Vasundhara Raje has long been synonymous with the BJP in the state, and more than half of the MLAs and MPs are believed to be in her direct support. Many have publicly expressed their allegiance to Raje. This situation has raised concerns that should the party’s high command proceed with the election without Raje, it might face backlash from both Raje and her supporters. This leads to a significant question: Can Prime Minister Modi alone elevate the BJP’s power in Rajasthan, especially in the face of Chief Minister Gehlot’s efforts to solidify his position through populist initiatives aimed at altering the historical patterns of power transition?

    Meanwhile, some Raje loyalists also point out that while it is surprising that she is being dropped from both these committees but other senior leaders like Gajendra Singh Shekhawat,  leader of opposition Rajendra Rathore, both the former BJP chief and the current party President C P Joshi have all been kept out of these committees. On the condition of anonymity, one of Raje’s supporters said, “Nobody can ignore Vasundhara Raje she is after all the most popular mass leader of the BJP in Rajasthan so wait and watch.”

    Nonetheless, the campaign committee announcement is still pending, marking the third major committee after the resolution declaration and the election management committee. Notably, before the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi served as the coordinator of the campaign committee. Traditionally, the coordinator or chairman of the campaign committee becomes the official face of the party for the election. Experts caution that any conjecture is premature without the announcement of this committee. 
     

  • Rajasthan: Budget session in January sets off big buzz over withdrawal of resignations by Congress MLAs

    Express News Service

    JAIPUR: Ahead of the budget session of the Rajasthan assembly from January 23, a meeting between assembly Speaker CP Joshi and Congress state in-charge Sukhwinder Singh Randhawa has set off a big buzz that the resignations submitted by over 90 pro-Gehlot MLAs on 25th September are now being withdrawn.

    Sources in the party say that the reason for revoking resignations is the hearing in the Rajasthan High Court on the issue on January 2. The BJP has asked Speaker Joshi to accept the resignations which in effect will bring the Gehlot government to a minority. The plan to revoke the resignations is being described as a mockery of democracy by the opposition BJP.

    Over 90 MLAs of the Gehlot faction, who resigned after boycotting the Congress Legislature Party meeting on September 25, have now been asked to withdraw their resignations. The new in-charge Sukhjinder Randhawa, in a meeting with Assembly Speaker Dr CP Joshi, discussed how the dispute over resignations of the MLAs could be settled by citing the message of the Congress High Command.

    In the meeting with Joshi, he also wanted to know the status of resignations and the technical aspects of it. After a few days in Jaipur, Randhawa returned to Delhi after taking feedback from all party leaders.

    In contrast, the BJP is raising questions as to why no decision has been taken even after three months on the resignations by Congress MLAs. A petition was filed in the High Court on behalf of BJP MLA Rajendra Rathore, on which Speaker Joshi has asked to clarify the situation through a notice to his secretary by the next hearing of the case on January 2.

    The second reason for withdrawing the resignation is that the assembly session will start in Rajasthan on January 23. As soon as the budget session begins, the BJP will ask the speaker to clarify the position on the resignations. On the BJP’s demand, Speaker Joshi will have to give a ruling in the assembly and there is a possibility of the Congress and the government getting cornered on this issue. In such a situation, the resignations of all the MLAs are likely to be revoked before the budget session.

    On September 25, following the orders of the Congress high command, a meeting of the Legislature Party was called at the CM’s residence where a one-line resolution was to be passed giving the right of selection of the new CM to the high command. After boycotting that CLP meet, 91 Congress MLAs had voluntarily submitted their resignations to the Speaker.

    By resigning, the MLAs were trying to put pressure on the high command that if Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot is removed from the post, then only one of the 102 MLAs of his faction should be made the Chief Minister and not Sachin Pilot. The pro-Gehlot MLAs had gone to Speaker Joshi and handed him their resignations. However, the speaker has, to date, neither accepted those resignations nor taken any action on them.

    These resignations became the biggest obstacle in the way of making Pilot the CM. It is believed that resignation politics in Rajasthan is almost over now as it has also become clear that CM Ashok Gehlot will present the budget. In such a situation, there is no scope for any leadership change and the resignations of MLAs will be withdrawn in the next few days.

    According to Vidhansabha sources, neither these resignations were received by the Vidhansabha office, nor is there any information about their withdrawal. Deputy Leader of Opposition Rajendra Rathore said that this is a mockery of democracy.

    “Once resignation is given, there is no provision to take it back. These MLAs are misleading the public. If the ministers had resigned, how their decisions are being implemented till now. The government did not have the confidence of the house. The ministers and MLAs should also return their salaries and allowances for this period. These Congress MLAs were not in a position to counter the points raised in the petition, that’s why the resignations have been withdrawn.”

    Just before Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra entered Rajasthan, the Congress high command had effected a reconciliation between CM Gehlot and Sachin Pilot, after which the yatra could pass off peacefully.

    Experts believe that due to the resignations, CM Gehlot has been able to get his desire to present the last budget of this government.

    But it is still a big question whether Gehlot will remain the CM after the budget.

    JAIPUR: Ahead of the budget session of the Rajasthan assembly from January 23, a meeting between assembly Speaker CP Joshi and Congress state in-charge Sukhwinder Singh Randhawa has set off a big buzz that the resignations submitted by over 90 pro-Gehlot MLAs on 25th September are now being withdrawn.

    Sources in the party say that the reason for revoking resignations is the hearing in the Rajasthan High Court on the issue on January 2. The BJP has asked Speaker Joshi to accept the resignations which in effect will bring the Gehlot government to a minority. The plan to revoke the resignations is being described as a mockery of democracy by the opposition BJP.

    Over 90 MLAs of the Gehlot faction, who resigned after boycotting the Congress Legislature Party meeting on September 25, have now been asked to withdraw their resignations. The new in-charge Sukhjinder Randhawa, in a meeting with Assembly Speaker Dr CP Joshi, discussed how the dispute over resignations of the MLAs could be settled by citing the message of the Congress High Command.

    In the meeting with Joshi, he also wanted to know the status of resignations and the technical aspects of it. After a few days in Jaipur, Randhawa returned to Delhi after taking feedback from all party leaders.

    In contrast, the BJP is raising questions as to why no decision has been taken even after three months on the resignations by Congress MLAs. A petition was filed in the High Court on behalf of BJP MLA Rajendra Rathore, on which Speaker Joshi has asked to clarify the situation through a notice to his secretary by the next hearing of the case on January 2.

    The second reason for withdrawing the resignation is that the assembly session will start in Rajasthan on January 23. As soon as the budget session begins, the BJP will ask the speaker to clarify the position on the resignations. On the BJP’s demand, Speaker Joshi will have to give a ruling in the assembly and there is a possibility of the Congress and the government getting cornered on this issue. In such a situation, the resignations of all the MLAs are likely to be revoked before the budget session.

    On September 25, following the orders of the Congress high command, a meeting of the Legislature Party was called at the CM’s residence where a one-line resolution was to be passed giving the right of selection of the new CM to the high command. After boycotting that CLP meet, 91 Congress MLAs had voluntarily submitted their resignations to the Speaker.

    By resigning, the MLAs were trying to put pressure on the high command that if Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot is removed from the post, then only one of the 102 MLAs of his faction should be made the Chief Minister and not Sachin Pilot. The pro-Gehlot MLAs had gone to Speaker Joshi and handed him their resignations. However, the speaker has, to date, neither accepted those resignations nor taken any action on them.

    These resignations became the biggest obstacle in the way of making Pilot the CM. It is believed that resignation politics in Rajasthan is almost over now as it has also become clear that CM Ashok Gehlot will present the budget. In such a situation, there is no scope for any leadership change and the resignations of MLAs will be withdrawn in the next few days.

    According to Vidhansabha sources, neither these resignations were received by the Vidhansabha office, nor is there any information about their withdrawal. Deputy Leader of Opposition Rajendra Rathore said that this is a mockery of democracy.

    “Once resignation is given, there is no provision to take it back. These MLAs are misleading the public. If the ministers had resigned, how their decisions are being implemented till now. The government did not have the confidence of the house. The ministers and MLAs should also return their salaries and allowances for this period. These Congress MLAs were not in a position to counter the points raised in the petition, that’s why the resignations have been withdrawn.”

    Just before Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra entered Rajasthan, the Congress high command had effected a reconciliation between CM Gehlot and Sachin Pilot, after which the yatra could pass off peacefully.

    Experts believe that due to the resignations, CM Gehlot has been able to get his desire to present the last budget of this government.

    But it is still a big question whether Gehlot will remain the CM after the budget.

  • Rajasthan Congress gets HC jolt during Bharat Jodo Yatra

    Express News Service

    JAIPUR: Even as Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra entered its second day in Rajasthan on Tuesday, the Congress received a jolt with the High Court issuing a notice to the Rajasthan Assembly Speaker CP Joshi over the resignations of 91 party MLAs on September 25.

    A division bench of Justices MM Srivastava and VK Bhavani gave the order on a PIL filed by BJP leader Rajendra Singh Rathore, since the Speaker has not yet taken any decision on the issue. The petition said if an MLA submits his resignation under Rule 173 of the Legislative Assembly Procedure, the Speaker has no option but to accept the resignation and can only examine whether the resignation is voluntary and genuine or not.

    The petition also said that it is possible that such a huge number of MLAs may have been forced to give their resignations or their signatures were forged, and the government has lost confidence in the House due to the resignation of MLAs. “The court has issued a two weeks’ notice after the hearing,” Rathore said.

    “The Speaker and the secretary of the Assembly will have to present why they have not yet decided on these resignations even after a lapse of 70 days,” he added. Meanwhile, Rahul faced pro-Modi slogans when his rally passed in front of the office of Lok Sabha MP Dushyant Singh, the son of former Chief Minister Vasundhra Raje in Jhalawar district, which is the BJP leader’s bastion.

    Rahul shook hands with the BJP workers and also asked Sachin Pilot and Ramlal Jat, who were walking along, to greet them. The Congress leaders waved at the crowd, and even blew a few flying kisses towards them, which led to a burst of clapping from the onlookers. This, the Congress said, is a reflection of the kind of politics Rahul wants to promote through his Yatra. Rahul also said on the social media that the purpose of his Yatra is to counter the politics of hatred that is being spread in the country.

    “Neither malice, nor irritation, nor anger — there is none of these in the heart of any of our Yatris. There is something to unite India, sympathy for the problems of Indians and love for all countrymen…,” he posted. Meanwhile, amid continuing internal tussle in the Congress in Rajasthan, senior Punjab leader Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa has been appointed as the state on-charge in place of Ajay Maken, who resigned a few weeks ago. Randhawa has also been nominated as a member of the Congress Steering Committee. In the last two-and-a-half years, two state in-charges have resigned in Rajasthan, but the Gehlot-Pilot dispute remains unresolved.

    JAIPUR: Even as Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra entered its second day in Rajasthan on Tuesday, the Congress received a jolt with the High Court issuing a notice to the Rajasthan Assembly Speaker CP Joshi over the resignations of 91 party MLAs on September 25.

    A division bench of Justices MM Srivastava and VK Bhavani gave the order on a PIL filed by BJP leader Rajendra Singh Rathore, since the Speaker has not yet taken any decision on the issue. The petition said if an MLA submits his resignation under Rule 173 of the Legislative Assembly Procedure, the Speaker has no option but to accept the resignation and can only examine whether the resignation is voluntary and genuine or not.

    The petition also said that it is possible that such a huge number of MLAs may have been forced to give their resignations or their signatures were forged, and the government has lost confidence in the House due to the resignation of MLAs. “The court has issued a two weeks’ notice after the hearing,” Rathore said.

    “The Speaker and the secretary of the Assembly will have to present why they have not yet decided on these resignations even after a lapse of 70 days,” he added. Meanwhile, Rahul faced pro-Modi slogans when his rally passed in front of the office of Lok Sabha MP Dushyant Singh, the son of former Chief Minister Vasundhra Raje in Jhalawar district, which is the BJP leader’s bastion.

    Rahul shook hands with the BJP workers and also asked Sachin Pilot and Ramlal Jat, who were walking along, to greet them. The Congress leaders waved at the crowd, and even blew a few flying kisses towards them, which led to a burst of clapping from the onlookers. This, the Congress said, is a reflection of the kind of politics Rahul wants to promote through his Yatra. Rahul also said on the social media that the purpose of his Yatra is to counter the politics of hatred that is being spread in the country.

    “Neither malice, nor irritation, nor anger — there is none of these in the heart of any of our Yatris. There is something to unite India, sympathy for the problems of Indians and love for all countrymen…,” he posted. Meanwhile, amid continuing internal tussle in the Congress in Rajasthan, senior Punjab leader Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa has been appointed as the state on-charge in place of Ajay Maken, who resigned a few weeks ago. Randhawa has also been nominated as a member of the Congress Steering Committee. In the last two-and-a-half years, two state in-charges have resigned in Rajasthan, but the Gehlot-Pilot dispute remains unresolved.

  • Twist in the Congress tale: Pro-Gehlot MLAs revolt against Pilot becoming Rajasthan CM

    Express News Service

    JAIPUR: In a late Sunday evening political development in Rajasthan, the kind only Congress men can pull off, nearly 100 pro-Ashok Gehlot legislators sprang a surprise by quitting en masse in a protest, widely seen as, against the proposal to elevate Sachin Pilot as the Chief Minister of the state.

    The revolting legislators met Assembly speaker C P Joshi at his residence and submitted their resignation.

    The twist to the Congress’ political drama came amid suspense over who will succeed Gehlot as the next Chief Minister of Rajasthan. A meeting of the Rajasthan Congress Legislature Party was called for around 9 pm at the CM’s house with party veterans Mallikarjun Kharge and Ajay Maken as observers on behalf of the Congress high command. But instead of heading for the meeting, the legislators went straight to the Speaker’s residence to convey that they are quitting. Amid the revolt, Congress’s high command sent a message to the observers to hear the views of all the legislators.

    The dissent from Gehlot supporters broke out amid speculation that Sachin Pilot would be Gehlot’s successor as the latter is poised to contest for the party president’s post.

    ALSO READ | Crucial Congress MLAs meet in Jaipur amid suspense over who will be next CM of Rajasthan

    As pro-Gehlot legislators scurried to quit, their mood was reflected in the statement of Independent MLA Sanyam Lodha, who commented that the new chief minister should be a representative of the nearly 100 MLAs who stayed in hotels for 38 days to save the Congress government two years ago. Alluding to Pilot, he said, those who tried to topple the Congress cannot be accepted as the chief minister. In July 2020, Pilot along with 18 party MLAs had rebelled against Gehlot.

    Earlier, Gehlot had tweeted – “It has been made up by the media from the very beginning that Ashok Gehlot does not want to leave the post of Chief Minister of Rajasthan, while this thing has never been in my mind.  I have already told the high command on August 9 that it is very important to win the next Rajasthan elections.”

    Another tweet by Gehlot read, “In this country the media becomes the king maker, unfortunately they do not know the ground reality.  The media of Delhi does not know anything and they run such campaigns that they become king makers.”

    JAIPUR: In a late Sunday evening political development in Rajasthan, the kind only Congress men can pull off, nearly 100 pro-Ashok Gehlot legislators sprang a surprise by quitting en masse in a protest, widely seen as, against the proposal to elevate Sachin Pilot as the Chief Minister of the state.

    The revolting legislators met Assembly speaker C P Joshi at his residence and submitted their resignation.

    The twist to the Congress’ political drama came amid suspense over who will succeed Gehlot as the next Chief Minister of Rajasthan. A meeting of the Rajasthan Congress Legislature Party was called for around 9 pm at the CM’s house with party veterans Mallikarjun Kharge and Ajay Maken as observers on behalf of the Congress high command. But instead of heading for the meeting, the legislators went straight to the Speaker’s residence to convey that they are quitting. Amid the revolt, Congress’s high command sent a message to the observers to hear the views of all the legislators.

    The dissent from Gehlot supporters broke out amid speculation that Sachin Pilot would be Gehlot’s successor as the latter is poised to contest for the party president’s post.

    ALSO READ | Crucial Congress MLAs meet in Jaipur amid suspense over who will be next CM of Rajasthan

    As pro-Gehlot legislators scurried to quit, their mood was reflected in the statement of Independent MLA Sanyam Lodha, who commented that the new chief minister should be a representative of the nearly 100 MLAs who stayed in hotels for 38 days to save the Congress government two years ago. Alluding to Pilot, he said, those who tried to topple the Congress cannot be accepted as the chief minister. In July 2020, Pilot along with 18 party MLAs had rebelled against Gehlot.

    Earlier, Gehlot had tweeted – “It has been made up by the media from the very beginning that Ashok Gehlot does not want to leave the post of Chief Minister of Rajasthan, while this thing has never been in my mind.  I have already told the high command on August 9 that it is very important to win the next Rajasthan elections.”

    Another tweet by Gehlot read, “In this country the media becomes the king maker, unfortunately they do not know the ground reality.  The media of Delhi does not know anything and they run such campaigns that they become king makers.”

  • Action time in Rajasthan as Sachin begins attempts to Pilot his way to CM’s chair

    Express News Service

    JAIPUR: With the election for the next Congress party president fast approaching, everyone is now keen on knowing who will be the new Rajasthan Chief Minister.

    Current CM Ashok Gehlot had met Rahul Gandhi in Kerala on Thursday and announced his decision to file a nomination for the post of AICC president. Gehlot had also confirmed that he will resign as CM if he becomes the new party president.

    Against this backdrop, one of the main contenders Sachin Pilot reached Jaipur on Friday and started lobbying with MLAs.

    He also met the Speaker of the Assembly and senior Congress leader CP Joshi.

    Joshi, a former Union Minister, is seen as one of the major contenders should Gehlot win and move to Delhi. It is being said that Gehlot has recommended that Joshi be crowned his successor.

    Meanwhile, Gehlot himself returned to Jaipur from Kerala via Shirdi late Friday evening.

    ALSO READ | Gehlot likely to step down as Rajasthan CM, Tharoor may get CWC berth

    In the morning, Pilot reached the assembly and met the MLAs supporting him, including Ved Prakash Solanki, Indraj Gurjar and Rajesh Pareek. He also met Gehlot supporters Girraj Malinga and independent MLA Khushveer Jojawar. After these meetings, Pilot smiled and left with folded hands.

    He then reached Speaker Joshi’s chamber after meeting a dozen MLAs in the assembly lobby. At this meeting, Gehlot’s close aide Dharmendra Rathod, cabinet minister Pratap Singh Khachariawas and Gujarat Congress in-charge Raghu Sharma were also present.

    Sources said that Pilot has started talking to Congress MLAs of all factions. These include those MLAs who were once considered his staunch opponents.

    The meeting between Joshi and Pilot is especially being considered very important. Right now both these leaders are seen as frontrunners to replace Gehlot. Although the conversation between the two leaders has not been disclosed, it is believed that there has been a round of consultation between them regarding the future CM of Rajasthan.

    ALSO READ | Cong prez polls: Anyone including Sachin Pilot acceptable as CM, says Gehlot’s minister

    Gehlot’s statement, in which he had spoken of the need to consider the sentiments of MLAs in the choice of a new CM, is believed to be behind Pilot’s aggressive lobbying.

    At the moment, 80 percent of the MLAs are with Gehlot and about 20 percent are in favor of Pilot. Pilot is trying to woo the MLAs in the Gehlot camp away in his favor.

    The Pilot camp also wants Gehlot to leave the CM chair before he is crowned as the President of AICC because they fear that he may create difficulties otherwise.

    When asked in Kerala about who will succeed him if the CM’s post falls vacant in Rajasthan, Gehlot had said the “decision about the next CM will be taken through a proper process. Sonia Gandhi and general secretary in-charge Ajay Maken will decide together”.

    JAIPUR: With the election for the next Congress party president fast approaching, everyone is now keen on knowing who will be the new Rajasthan Chief Minister.

    Current CM Ashok Gehlot had met Rahul Gandhi in Kerala on Thursday and announced his decision to file a nomination for the post of AICC president. Gehlot had also confirmed that he will resign as CM if he becomes the new party president.

    Against this backdrop, one of the main contenders Sachin Pilot reached Jaipur on Friday and started lobbying with MLAs.

    He also met the Speaker of the Assembly and senior Congress leader CP Joshi.

    Joshi, a former Union Minister, is seen as one of the major contenders should Gehlot win and move to Delhi. It is being said that Gehlot has recommended that Joshi be crowned his successor.

    Meanwhile, Gehlot himself returned to Jaipur from Kerala via Shirdi late Friday evening.

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    In the morning, Pilot reached the assembly and met the MLAs supporting him, including Ved Prakash Solanki, Indraj Gurjar and Rajesh Pareek. He also met Gehlot supporters Girraj Malinga and independent MLA Khushveer Jojawar. After these meetings, Pilot smiled and left with folded hands.

    He then reached Speaker Joshi’s chamber after meeting a dozen MLAs in the assembly lobby. At this meeting, Gehlot’s close aide Dharmendra Rathod, cabinet minister Pratap Singh Khachariawas and Gujarat Congress in-charge Raghu Sharma were also present.

    Sources said that Pilot has started talking to Congress MLAs of all factions. These include those MLAs who were once considered his staunch opponents.

    The meeting between Joshi and Pilot is especially being considered very important. Right now both these leaders are seen as frontrunners to replace Gehlot. Although the conversation between the two leaders has not been disclosed, it is believed that there has been a round of consultation between them regarding the future CM of Rajasthan.

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    Gehlot’s statement, in which he had spoken of the need to consider the sentiments of MLAs in the choice of a new CM, is believed to be behind Pilot’s aggressive lobbying.

    At the moment, 80 percent of the MLAs are with Gehlot and about 20 percent are in favor of Pilot. Pilot is trying to woo the MLAs in the Gehlot camp away in his favor.

    The Pilot camp also wants Gehlot to leave the CM chair before he is crowned as the President of AICC because they fear that he may create difficulties otherwise.

    When asked in Kerala about who will succeed him if the CM’s post falls vacant in Rajasthan, Gehlot had said the “decision about the next CM will be taken through a proper process. Sonia Gandhi and general secretary in-charge Ajay Maken will decide together”.