Following the AICC observers’ report on the political crisis in Rajasthan, Congress on Tuesday served show cause notices to three Ashok Gehlot loyalists-minister Shanti Dhariwal, chief whip Mahesh Joshi and Dharmendra Rathore. However, the Chief Minister Gehlot has been given a clean chit in the report.
The party high command served the show cause notices to three leaders for “an act of grave indiscipline” and sought their replies within 10 days as to why disciplinary action will not be taken against them.
Earlier, observers Mallikarjun Kharge and Ajay Maken submitted their report to party chief Sonia Gandhi blaming three pro-Gehlot MLAs for the on-going drama. The report said that the three leaders hold a parallel meeting of MLAs where they passed a resolution on the next Chief Minister. The resolution said that the Chief Minister must be chosen from those who supported the government in 2020 when Sachin Pilot staged a coup to topple Gehlot government. Following the resolution, as many as 93 MLAs resigned, bringing huge embarrassment to the Congress leadership.
The report, however, gave clean chit to Gehlot. The exemption of Gehlot seems to come amid efforts to put an end to the on-going crisis.
Reacting to the show cause notices, Dhariwal lashed out at Congress’ state in-charge Maken alleging that he was part of a “conspiracy” to remove Chief Minister Gehlot. Dhariwal, a Gehlot loyalist, also took a veiled swipe at Pilot and said that Rajasthan MLAs will not sit through and tolerate if traitors are being rewarded.
“It was a 100 per cent conspiracy to remove the CM and the general secretary incharge was a part of it. I am not talking about anyone else, no charge on Kharge but only the General Secretary incharge,” said Dhariwal. He further said that disgruntled lawmakers of Rajasthan asked him to “listen to their voice”.
“A general secretary is himself canvassing to make such people chief minister who betrayed the party and because of it, MLAs are angry and disgruntled. MLAs asked me to listen to their voice. They want someone from 102 MLAs who huddled together to stay with Congress for over 34 days (in 2020) to be made CM,” he added.
Amid the political crisis, Gehlot held an informal meeting with a few ministers and party MLAs at his residence here on Tuesday, sources said.
Sources also said Forest and Environment Minister Sukhram Bishnoi, Minister of State for Home Rajendra Yadav, Minorities Minister Saleh Mohammad, Sports Minister Ashok Chandna and MLAs Madan Prajapat, Rafiq Khan, Amin Kagzi, Khushveer Jojawar, Amit Chachan, Jagdish Jangid were among those present.