In a veiled attack on party leader Sachin Pilot, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Sunday said it was important to know why there was resentment among MLAs over the name of a new Chief Minister in the State. He also asserted that he cannot ditch the 102 MLAs who had saved his Government during the political crisis in 2020 and, therefore, he apologised to Sonia Gandhi. Targeting the MLAs who had revolted against him in 2020, he said they were hand-in-glove with the BJP. “Some of our MLAs met Amit Shah, Dharmendra Pradhan and other BJP leaders. Amit Shah was offering sweets to our MLAs. So, how can I forget those 102 MLAs who saved the Congress Government,” he said without naming anyone.
Several MLAs loyal to Gehlot, who was seen as the frontrunner for the post of the Congress national president, had last week submitted resignation letters over a possible move to appoint Pilot as the next Chief Minister. Gehlot later announced that he will not contest the Congress presidential polls as he took moral responsibility for the political crisis in his State.
Referring to the crisis, he said 80-90 per cent MLAs switch sides when a new Chief Minister is going to be appointed but this did not happen in Rajasthan.
“It was a new case in Rajasthan where the MLAs got agitated just in the name of the new Chief Minister,” Gehlot said without naming Pilot.
"I was in Jaisalmer. I could not guess but the MLAs sensed who was going to be a new Chief Minister," he told reporters after paying tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at the secretariat here.
When asked about the chances of the Chief Minister being changed now, Gehlot reiterated that it is for the party High Command to decide. "I am doing my work and it is for the party High Command to take a decision," he said.
The veteran Congressman on Saturday asked the people to send suggestions about the next budget directly to him, hinting that he was there to stay.
He also declared that he cannot remain away from the people of Rajasthan "till his last breath" and that the Congress Government will complete its five years.
The Chief Minister said his objective is to bring the Congress Government back to power in Rajasthan after the next polls, which is important for the revival of the party at the national level.
"I had already conveyed to madam (Sonia Gandhi) and Ajay Maken in August that it is not necessary that I should be the Chief Minister. I told them that I am ready to withdraw. I said I will support and campaign because it should be our aim to revive the Congress party," he said.
On Sunday, advertisements of Invest Rajasthan, going to be held in Jaipur on October 7 and 8, with the Chief Minister's message appeared on front pages on newspapers, indicating Gehlot's confidence that he was going to continue as the Chief Minister.
Meanwhile, Gehlot's advisor and independent MLA Sanyam Lodha indirectly expressed apprehension about the possibility of the Government completing the tenure.
A video clip of Lodha speaking at a Gandhi Jayanti programme in Sirohi surfaced on social media in which he is seen talking about completing a local project if the Government continued.
"I hope that if the Government continues, we will start that work in January," he said.
Gehlot also said that the observer is a big post, and anyone acting as an observer should act on behalf of the party High Command and should reflect their aura.
Observers come on behalf of the party high command. Why such circumstances were developed here, a research should be done, he said referring to the rebellion by the MLAs. Gehlot said no one is perfect and he, too, learns everyday and corrects himself whenever needed.
"I have got public support whenever needed, be it during the political crisis or during corona. How can I stay away from them," he asked.