With trouble brewing on his home turf, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot is likely to hold back filing the nomination for the Congress presidential election, sources told India Today.
On Sunday, over 80 Congress MLAs belonging to the Ashok Gehlot camp submitted their resignation letters to the Assembly Speaker. The MLAs are opposed to the selection of the new chief minister of Rajasthan from among the legislators who had rebelled against the Ashok Gehlot government in July 2020.
Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi has asked for a detailed report from party observers Mallikarjun Kharge and Ajay Maken on the current situation in Rajasthan. According to sources, Kharge has said that the rebellion was sponsored by Ashok Gehlot himself.
Meanwhile, sources said that Sachin Pilot, Ashok Gehlot’s former deputy who led the rebellion against him in July 2020, is counting on the Gandhis to intervene and take action against Gehlot.
Rahul Gandhi has also sent Congress general secretary KC Venugopal to Rajasthan. Venugopal has asked to seek explanation from Ashok Gehlot over the MLAs’ rebellion, sources told India Today.
WHAT ARE THE DEMANDS OF RAJASTHAN MLAS?
According to sources, the MLAs who resigned on Sunday have put forth a three-point agenda. This includes the demand for a chief ministerial candidate from among the Gehlot loyalists. Gehlot camp MLAs have conveyed to the party high command emissaries, including Maken and Khadge, that deliberations on possible leadership change in Rajasthan should happen after the new Congress President is appointed. Third, Ashok Gehlot’s choice should be taken into consideration.
