Former Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje on Saturday broke her silence on Rajasthan political turmoil blaming the infighting in the Congress for the plight of the State, but a veteran MLA close to her flayed his own party for “horse-trading” to create political instability in the State.
“It is unfortunate that the people of Rajasthan are paying for the discord within the Congress,” Raje said in her first reaction on the political crisis in the State.
“There is no point in trying to drag the BJP and the BJP leaders’ names through the mud. It is the interest of our people that must remain paramount!” the former Chief Minister said.
An MLA from the Sachin Pilot camp had on Friday accused Raje of helping the Gehlot Government by allegedly asking her supporter MLAs to help the Congress in its fight against the rebel Congress leader.
It’s well know that Raje does not share best of relation with the BJP top leadership. It is also speculated that she didn’t want Pilot to make inroads in the BJP and emerge as possible contender for the Chief Minister’s post.
Meanwhile, veteran Rajasthan BJP leader and former Assembly Speaker Kailash Chandra Meghwal expressed his displeasure at alleged attempts to topple the Congress Government when the State faces many challenges.
“Rajasthan politics has been derailed. It is unfortunate that attempts are being made to destabilise the Government when the State faces the danger of Covid-19 pandemic and also unemployment among its poor. This is not appropriate. This is due to internal feud within the Congress,” he told PTI.
Meghwal, an MLA considered close to former Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, said it was “condemnable” that people had resorted to “immoral tactics, ugly politics and horse-trading” to destabilise the Government.
Only a stable Government can deal with the challenges like coronavirus and unemployment, he said.
He also said that leaders have no right to topple a Government, be it of any political party.
The Congress has accused the BJP of “conspiring” to topple the State Government, and the State police have registered a case.
Meghwal, however, asserted that the crisis was an outcome of the internal feud within the Congress and that the BJP had nothing to do with it.
The BJP believes in value-based politics, he said, adding that the Congress’’ allegation against his party was untrue and was an attempt to deflect attention from its failures.
“The BJP can never be involved in horse-trading,” he claimed.
He also lashed out at Pilot for his claim of an “understanding” between Raje and Gehlot, saying the Congress rebel’s charge was a reflection of his “petty politics” and also hailed her role in the State politics.
Asked if the BJP should join hands with Pilot or not, he said, “The BJP should decide its actions based on moral values.”