Jaipur/New Delhi: Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot on Sunday on Sunday declared open rebellion, claiming that the Ashok Gehlot government is in minority now as over 30 Congress MLAs have “pledged support” to him.
“Rajasthan Deputy CM and Congress leader Sachin Pilot not to attend Congress Legislature Party meeting scheduled to be held tomorrow,” a statement from the leader, who is also the state Congress president, said on his WhatsApp group.
“Pilot says Ashok Gehlot in minority after over 30 Congress and some independent MLAs have pledged support to Sachin Pilot,” it added.
The statement surfaced just as ministers and Congress MLAs were gathering at Gehlot’s official residence in the state capital for a meeting to express support to the chief minister, amid the power tussle between the two leaders.
Soon after the announcement Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said the party remained intact and the government will complete its five-year term. Surjewala was in Jaipur to attend Monday’s Legislature Party meeting as an observer.
Ajay Maken was also headed there, as the Congress tries to avert the loss of another state – after Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh. Party leaders were a huddle at the CM’s residence till late at night after Pilot’s announcement.
Gehlot and other leaders are said to be in touch with allies and independent MLAs supporting the government, hoping to ensure at Monday’s meeting that the Congress government had the numbers to retain power. Pilot had been incommunicado for about two days.
The All India Congress Committee general secretary in-charge of the state, Avinash Pandey, told PTI that he had been trying to get in touch with the leader. “I have left messages for him,” he had said.
Pilot’s supporters had said he was camping in Delhi and was upset over a notice sent to him by the Rajasthan police, who claimed to have stumbled on a plot to topple the Congress government. (PTI)
