Amid overtures to Sachin Pilot, Rajasthan CLP backs Gehlot

Amid overtures to Sachin Pilot, Rajasthan CLP backs Gehlot 

 

Congress calls another legislature party meet today; MLAs shifted to luxury hotel

The Congress Legislature Party (CLP) in Rajasthan on Monday expressed faith in the leadership of Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot amid the political turmoil caused by Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot’s rebellion and claimed the support of over 100 legislators in the 200member Assembly. With the show of strength at Mr. Gehlot’s official residence where more than 100 MLAs — from the Congress and those supporting the ruling party — were in attendance, the CLP passed a resolution calling for strict disciplinary action against those who “weaken the party”. The Congress, has, however called another meeting of the Legislature Party on Tuesday morning. Senior Congress leaders, including former party president Rahul Gandhi and general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra through emissaries, reportedly tried reaching out to Mr. Pilot, who continued to be in Delhi and refused to attend the CLP meeting.  Asource close to Mr. Pilot, however, denied that the central leadership had made any serious attempt to resolve the issue. On a day of fast­paced developments, the MLAs, accompanied by Mr. Gehlot, were shifted to a luxury hotel on the Jaipur­Delhi Highway, 20 km from the city, soon after the meeting ended.

Stern warning The resolution, passed unanimously, condemned all “undemocratic and wrongful” acts for weakening the Congress and expressed confidence in the leadership of party president Sonia Gandhi and senior leader Rahul Gandhi, besides extending support to the Ashok Gehlotled government. “This CLP meeting de

mands that if any Congress office­bearer or member of the CLP indulges in anti­party activities, directly or indirectly, or is involved in a conspiracy, then strong disciplinary action should be taken against him,” the resolution stated, without naming Mr. Pilot or any other leader. The resolution also accused the Opposition BJP of hatching a conspiracy to “murder democracy” by trying to destabilise the Congress government and bribe the MLAs. This was an insult to the eight crore people of Rajasthan, it said.