"If you are the chief minister of one of the two Congress-governed states, and a considerably large one in the cow belt, you are positioned to call the shots, to tell the “high command” what to do.
That’s precisely what Ashok Gehlot, the Rajasthan chief minister — vastly underrated by Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra — set out to do on September 25. He crossed swords with the Gandhis who imagined that the senior, labelled as an “old loyalist”, would allow a very junior KC Venugopal, Rahul’s factotum, to oversee his exit from Jaipur".
-- Times of India
Despite 'dynasty' blessings coronation as Congress Prez, Gehlot camp 'rebels'
This is a sort of power game that can perhaps happen only in the Congress party - where leaders are at their worst sycophants and at the best simple power hungry.
Despite the Family No. 1 'dynasty' blessings for his coronation as Congress President, the Ashok Gehlot camp 'rebels' in Rajasthan and over 90 MLAs have tendered resignation.
The move is of course not against Sonia Gandhi's leadership (read Family Raj).
Their intent is more than crystal clear : - sabotage Sachin Pilot succeed Gehlot as the Chief Minister of the desert state which would go to the polls by the end of 2023.
Around 90 MLAs "loyal to Ashok Gehlot" submitted their resignation to Rajasthan Assembly Speaker C P Joshi late on Sunday. Gehlot is expected to file his nomination papers for the party president’s post soon.
As the Congress high command’s inclination to hand over the chief ministership in Rajasthan to Sachin Pilot became apparent, Gehlot loyalist MLAs went into a huddle beginning Sunday afternoon to register their opposition.
Gehlot, who was once political advisor to Rahul Gandhi, is expected to file his nomination papers for the election to the post of Congress president. Ostensibly, the Sonia-Rahul duo has backed Gehlot's candidature even as party's vocal MP from Kerala Shashi Tharoor is also likely to be in the race.
As the Congress high command’s inclination to hand over the chief ministership in Rajasthan to Sachin Pilot became apparent, Gehlot loyalist legislators went into a huddle on Sunday afternoon to register their opposition to any such move.
Gehlot’s loyalists want the next CM to be someone who had supported the government during the open rebellion by Sachin Pilot in 2020.
The Gehlot faction adopted their stand to oppose naming Sachin Pilot as the next Chief Ministerat Cabinet minister Shanti Dhariwal's residence.
Gehlot on election as Congress president is likely to step aside as the Chief Minister.
Reportedly, assembly Speaker C P Joshi is in the race to replace Gehlot. Both Joshi and Gehlotenjoy 'better rapport' vis-a-vis clear and strong differences between CM Gehlot and Sachin Pilot.
Joshi was a former Railway Minister under Manmohan Singh and had a stint as AICC general secretary as well.
(Sept 25 late evening dispatch)
As Ashok Gehlot, 71, gave hints for the first time that he might step down as Rajasthan chief minister, crisis came haunting the Congress party.
At least 92 MLAs loyal to Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot arrived at Speaker C P Joshi’s residence late Sunday evening to submit their resignation, plunging the Congress government into crisis as it prepares for a change of guard at the top, both in Rajasthan and Delhi.
The MLAs are reportedly miffed that they weren’t consulted over Gehlot’s expected move to step down as chief minister in order to contest in the upcoming Congress president election. Cabinet Minister Pratap Singh Khachariyawas told The Indian Express the number of MLAs are expected to rise up to 100.
Gehlot met MP Mallikarjun Kharge and Congress leader Ajay Maken at the hotel where they are staying, ahead of the Congress Legislature Party meet in Jaipur.
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