Days after expressing regret to party president Sonia Gandhi for a revolt in his State to prevent his rival Sachin Pilot from taking over as his successor, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Saturday indicated at his continuance at the helm in the State as he asked the public to “send their suggestions for the Budget directly to him”.
His remarks came on a day the process of filing of nominations for the post of Congress president came to an end. Gehlot was the first choice of the party high command but he dropped out following the revolt.
While three of his loyalists have since been showcaused, the revolt was also assumed to be a challenge to the party leadership, which is likely to yet again seek the opinion of its Rajasthan MLAs in one-on-one meetings.
Gehlot appealed to the youth, students and the public in general to send their suggestions directly to him so that the government could come up with better schemes. The assembly elections are due in Rajasthan after a year.
Asked about whether he would present the next Budget of Rajasthan, Gehlot, in Bikaner, said, "I would want people to send their suggestions for the budget directly to me." He said the Congress Government will complete its five years and that the next Budget will be dedicated to students and the youth.
He also said the Congress will not let the BJP succeed in its plan to topple the Government. "We will present the budget for the youth and children. I appeal to all people, youths and students to send their suggestions to his office to be evaluated and included in the proposals.
This will enable the government to implement various schemes and programmes for youth welfare and skill development. The youths are the future of the nation and they should come forward. Many journalists get jail terms for two years and are released on bail, which is not good,” Gehlot said.
However, earlier when he was almost certain to run for the Congress presidency, Gehlot had stated that he would brief the “next CM” on suggestions regarding schemes for students and the youth for the next budget. “Despite our good work, govt gets changed every time. Earlier we lost as voters got swayed away under the Modi wave. We were winning MP, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan (in 2019 elections) but lost. I request the people to give us another chance,” he said.
Hitting out at the BJP, Gehlot said, "They keep making efforts to ensure that our government does not complete five years.
Earlier, too, the BJP tried horse trading but our MLAs were united and they did not budge. You can see the government was saved last time and it is still going strong."
The Rajasthan chief minister had opted out of the race for Congress president after a rebellion in the party’s state unit, with a majority of MLAs holding a parallel meeting and not allowing a legislative party meeting last Sunday to pass a one-line resolution authorising the party chief to nominate a successor to Gehlot.
Congress central observers Ajay Maken and Mallikarjun Kharge submitted a written report to the high command on the political crisis in Rajasthan, where they termed the rebellion a 'gross indiscipline'.