News Analysis India

Tag: Rajasthan elections

  • Sachin Pilot suggests Congress will take action against Rajasthan MLAs who rebelled recently

    By PTI

    JAIPUR: Breaking his silence over the political crisis that erupted in Congress-ruled Rajasthan in September, party leader Sachin Pilot Wednesday suggested the party will soon take action against those who were given notices by the AICC for indiscipline.

    He said only 13 months were left for the assembly elections in Rajasthan and whatever decisions are to be taken, like the CLP meeting, the AICC would take them very soon.

    Pilot further said rules and discipline of the party apply to all, adding that he hoped Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge would take a decision in the matter soon.

    ALSO READ | ‘Unusual that MLAs get agitated over new CM suggestion’: Gehlot takes dig at Pilot 

    Notices were issued to Parliamentary Affairs Minister Shanti Dhariwal, chief whip and PHED Minister Mahesh Joshi and RTDC chairman Dharmendra Rathore after MLAs of the Ashok Gehlot camp skipped a CLP meeting on September 25 and held a parallel one at Dhariwal’s residence against any move by the party to make Sachin Pilot the new chief minister.

    Pilot also said Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot at a programme on Tuesday.

    He said this was interesting and should not be taken lightly.

    JAIPUR: Breaking his silence over the political crisis that erupted in Congress-ruled Rajasthan in September, party leader Sachin Pilot Wednesday suggested the party will soon take action against those who were given notices by the AICC for indiscipline.

    He said only 13 months were left for the assembly elections in Rajasthan and whatever decisions are to be taken, like the CLP meeting, the AICC would take them very soon.

    Pilot further said rules and discipline of the party apply to all, adding that he hoped Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge would take a decision in the matter soon.

    ALSO READ | ‘Unusual that MLAs get agitated over new CM suggestion’: Gehlot takes dig at Pilot 

    Notices were issued to Parliamentary Affairs Minister Shanti Dhariwal, chief whip and PHED Minister Mahesh Joshi and RTDC chairman Dharmendra Rathore after MLAs of the Ashok Gehlot camp skipped a CLP meeting on September 25 and held a parallel one at Dhariwal’s residence against any move by the party to make Sachin Pilot the new chief minister.

    Pilot also said Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot at a programme on Tuesday.

    He said this was interesting and should not be taken lightly.

  • ‘Will be around for 10-15 years’: Confident Gehlot plans to remain CM even after next elections in Rajasthan

    By Express News Service

    JAIPUR: Amid speculations that after Punjab, Rajasthan could see major changes, CM Ashok Gehlot has asserted that he is not going anywhere and will be around for another 10-15 years. His comments at the launch ceremony of “Prashasan Shahron aur Gawon ke Sang” campaign in Jaipur on Saturday have created a big buzz. Political corridors from Jaipur to Delhi are busy deciphering the veiled messages which the Congress veteran has tried to convey to his rivals within and outside his party.

    The senior Congress leader has been involved in a battle of wits with the Congress high command over sharing of power with the rival camp led by former deputy CM Sachin Pilot. A super confident Gehlot claimed that his government would complete its full tenure of five years and he would be active for the next 15-odd years. Gehlot said all speculations of an overhaul in Rajasthan after the change of guard in Punjab were “wrong and unfounded”.

    Far from being diffident, CM Gehlot has asserted that the Congress government would not only complete its five years but would also come back to power in the next Assembly elections in Rajasthan. “There is no anti-incumbency factor against our government. We have obtained authentic feedback from the people,” Gehlot remarked.

    CM Gehlot’s comments about the government’s stability are seen as an indirect counter to the Pilot camp which has been eager to see a leadership change in the state as in Punjab. Gehlot’s remarks have come at a time when the Congress High Command is facing a major crisis not only due to the mess in Punjab but due to the challenge from the G 23 group which has been targeting the Gandhi family for the past several months.

    Over the four decades of his political career, CM Gehlot has been well known for the timing and content of his statements. At a time when his critics in the Pilot camp are expecting a major overhaul in Rajasthan through cabinet reshuffle and political appointments, CM Gehlot has tried to turn the political tide to his advantage.

    Most political observers believe that CM Gehlot’s comments were directed at the rival camp in Congress led by his former deputy Sachin Pilot though he did not take any names. The 70-year-old Congress veteran has clearly asserted that he still has strong support at the ground level and unlike Amarinder Singh in Punjab, dislodging him in Rajasthan is simply not possible for the moment.

    Gehlot also asserted that his UDH minister Shanti Dhariwal will retain the same portfolio in the next government also. A signal that Gehlot plans to stay as chief minister if the Congress wins the next assembly election.

    “Dhariwal Ji has worked very hard will again make him UDH Minister next time also ” asserted Gehlot in one of his statement.

    CM Gehlot even referred to his recent angioplasty and thanked the people of the state for sending their wishes and prayers for his well-being. Significantly, however, the Chief Minister made no mention of the issue of Cabinet reshuffle as well as political appointments, which have been inordinately delayed. MLAs from the Pilot camp have been anxiously waiting for inclusion in the Cabinet and political positions ever since an assurance was given by the Congress high command but Gehlot has so far refused to accommodate them.

    For many months CM Gehlot has been resisting pressure from not just the Pilot camp but even the Congress high command over Cabinet reshuffle and other political appointments. Pilot was sacked both as the Deputy CM and the Pradesh Congress president after he and his 18 loyalist MLAs staged a rebellion against CM Gehlot in July last year. With his latest remarks, the wily Gehlot has signalled that he is in no hurry and will carry out the reshuffle only according to his own judgement.

    Rajasthan can have a maximum of 30 Ministers and with a present strength of 21, nine slots are vacant in the Council of Ministers.

     

  • ‘Will be around for 15-20 years’: Confident Gehlot plans to remain Rajasthan CM even after next elections

    By Express News Service

    JAIPUR: Amid speculations that after Punjab, Rajasthan could see major changes, CM Ashok Gehlot has asserted that he is not going anywhere and will be around for another 15-20 years. His comments at the launch ceremony of “Prashasan Shahron aur Gawon ke Sang” campaign in Jaipur on Saturday have created a big buzz. Political corridors from Jaipur to Delhi are busy deciphering the veiled messages which the Congress veteran has tried to convey to his rivals within and outside his party.

    The senior Congress leader has been involved in a battle of wits with the Congress high command over sharing of power with the rival camp led by former deputy CM Sachin Pilot. A super confident Gehlot claimed that his government would complete its full tenure of five years and he would be active for the next 15-odd years. Gehlot said all speculations of an overhaul in Rajasthan after the change of guard in Punjab were “wrong and unfounded”.

    Far from being diffident, CM Gehlot has asserted that the Congress government would not only complete its five years but would also come back to power in the next Assembly elections in Rajasthan. “There is no anti-incumbency factor against our government. We have obtained authentic feedback from the people,” Gehlot remarked.

    CM Gehlot’s comments about the government’s stability are seen as an indirect counter to the Pilot camp which has been eager to see a leadership change in the state as in Punjab. Gehlot’s remarks have come at a time when the Congress High Command is facing a major crisis not only due to the mess in Punjab but due to the challenge from the G 23 group which has been targeting the Gandhi family for the past several months.

    Over the four decades of his political career, CM Gehlot has been well known for the timing and content of his statements. At a time when his critics in the Pilot camp are expecting a major overhaul in Rajasthan through cabinet reshuffle and political appointments, CM Gehlot has tried to turn the political tide to his advantage.

    Most political observers believe that CM Gehlot’s comments were directed at the rival camp in Congress led by his former deputy Sachin Pilot though he did not take any names. The 70-year-old Congress veteran has clearly asserted that he still has strong support at the ground level and unlike Amarinder Singh in Punjab, dislodging him in Rajasthan is simply not possible for the moment.

    Gehlot also asserted that his UDH minister Shanti Dhariwal will retain the same portfolio in the next government also. A signal that Gehlot plans to stay as chief minister if the Congress wins the next assembly election.

    “Dhariwal Ji has worked very hard will again make him UDH Minister next time also ” asserted Gehlot in one of his statement.

    CM Gehlot even referred to his recent angioplasty and thanked the people of the state for sending their wishes and prayers for his well-being. Significantly, however, the Chief Minister made no mention of the issue of Cabinet reshuffle as well as political appointments, which have been inordinately delayed. MLAs from the Pilot camp have been anxiously waiting for inclusion in the Cabinet and political positions ever since an assurance was given by the Congress high command but Gehlot has so far refused to accommodate them.

    For many months CM Gehlot has been resisting pressure from not just the Pilot camp but even the Congress high command over Cabinet reshuffle and other political appointments. Pilot was sacked both as the Deputy CM and the Pradesh Congress president after he and his 18 loyalist MLAs staged a rebellion against CM Gehlot in July last year. With his latest remarks, the wily Gehlot has signalled that he is in no hurry and will carry out the reshuffle only according to his own judgement.

    Rajasthan can have a maximum of 30 Ministers and with a present strength of 21, nine slots are vacant in the Council of Ministers.

  • BJP begins preparations for 2023 Rajasthan polls with two-day camp, but Raje stays away

    Express News Service

    JAIPUR: Around two years are left for the Rajasthan Assembly elections in 2023 but the BJP has started its preparations by holding a two-day ‘Chintan Shivir’ in the historic city of Kumbhalgarh. BJP’s National Organisation General Secretary BL Santosh headed this special meet which attracted most major leaders of the state including BJP State President Satish Punia, Leader of Opposition Gulabchand Kataria, Deputy Leader of Opposition Rajendra Rathod and Rajya Sabha member Om Mathur.  

    However, former Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje has stayed away which has once again brought to the fore the rift in the state BJP. Tackling infighting still remains on top of the agenda for the state BJP.

    Senior leaders and office bearers of the party have prepared a strategy for the 2023 Assembly elections in separate sessions. The BJP’s think tank under the National Organisation General Secretary BL Santosh reviewed the various works related to the state unit of Rajasthan BJP at the Chintan Shivir. At the Shivir, leaders reviewed the organisation structures and activities of the party in their various meetings.

    The effort was aimed at preparing a roadmap for the future as the party aims to return to power in Rajasthan in 2023. Party sources say the emphasis at the meet was on making the party organisation more active. The BJP wants to establish a direct linkage of its party workers with voters from the state level to the booth level in each area. The functioning of the party was also reviewed in this special camp.

    Much of the discussion at the ‘Chintan Shivir’ was about removing party weaknesses and internal differences of the state party unit. BJP sources say that in the meeting, BL Santosh gave instructions to party leaders to put a full stop to factionalism. For the past two years, the Rajasthan BJP has seen a lot of infighting between supporters of former CM Vasundhara Raje and the state president Satish Poonia.

    As a result, even at this ‘Chintan Shivir’, serious concerns were raised as Vasundhara Raje and all leaders of her faction stayed absent from the camp. Though the ill-health of her daughter-in-law is known, no official reason was provided for why Raje did not attend the meeting. Given Raje’s notable absence, it’s clear that political turmoil in the BJP continues in the state unit. As it contemplates a return to power in Rajasthan, repairing the rift within the state party unit remains a major challenge for the BJP.