As the observers failed to hold Ashok Gehlot responsible for the ongoing drama in Rajasthan, the Congress high command has no other option but to keep Gehlot as the Chief Minister of the state. Sources said he will continue to be the chief minister. The next assembly elections will also be contested under Gehlot’s leadership only.
In fact, senior leaders namely Ambika Soni, Digvijay Singh and Anand Sharma swung into action immediately after the crisis started deepening in Rajasthan. Sharma and Ambika Soni held a meeting with Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi last night. Sources said that Ambika Soni even made Sonia Gandhi talk to Gehlot over phone. After these efforts of the seniors, the crisis, many say may be over soon. Top Congress leaders were worried about the possibility of Rajasthan going the Punjab way.
Now, Gehlot is unlikely to file the nomination for the Congress President post. He may meet Sonia Gandhi in Delhi soon. So, a new name for the President’s post may come up by Wednesday. Some leaders are urging Sonia to file papers.
All the veterans of the Congress are wondering as to why all of a sudden rumours were spread that Sachin Pilot will replace Gehlot as CM despite a majority of legislators supporting the latter. Why was the CLP meeting called? Leaders wonder why Gehlot was not trusted amid all the crisis, while it is the fact that he has been the most trusted leader for the Gandhi family. Those who were active to topple the government allegedly at the behest of BJP were trusted to the surprise of all.
Observer Ajay Maken’s report to the Congress interim chief also revealed the truth. Gehlot has not been blamed for all that happened in the report. Senior ministers Shanti Dhariwal, Mahesh Jish and RTDC Chairman Dharmendra Singh Rathore have been blamed for the crisis. Three leaders have been issued show cause notices, and their replies have been sought within ten days. Rathore remarked that his leader Rahul Gandhi has taught us not to be afraid of anything. “We were with truth, so we were not afraid,” he quipped. The truth has come out. Everyone has seen who the majority is going with. The high command was misled, he said.
Needless to say, the entire development came as a setback for the party, as Rajasthan is the only big state that the party has in its kitty. Moreover, no third party has yet entered the fray in Rajasthan, and there is a direct contest between Congress and BJP here. Two years ago, rebels led by Sachin Pilot tried to topple the government allegedly under “the Operation Lotus of BJP”. The BJP is still alleged to be eyeing the opportunity to fish in the troubled water. The argument of the Gehlot’s loyalists was that those who betrayed the Congress cannot be given power. There are allegations that some of these rebels at the behest of BJP ensured the defeat of the Congress candidates in the civic body elections. A rebel MLA helped BJP in the election for Jaipur District President post.