One year and a half after the Congress formed the government in Rajasthan,
they maybe on the verge of losing power.
All due to the ongoing tussle between CM Ashok Gehlot and Deputy CM Sachin Pilot of the Congress party.
Let me tell you about it.
According to Pilot, he helped Congress win the 2018 elections in Rajasthan
and form the government.
However, Ashok Gehlot was made the CM instead of Pilot.
This massively irked Pilot.
The Chief Minister and the Deputy had many differences in opinions.
They did not agree over the various policies formulated for the state of Rajasthan.
They did not agree over portfolio allocation in Rajasthan for sectors such as education, roadways, health, etc.
Pilot was even miffed about not being appointed Chief Minister.
The Congress party was then split into two camps.
One groups of MLAs supported Gehlot while another supported Pilot.
Recently the SOG launched an investigation on Pilot against allegations over his attempts to sabotage the government.
Pilot became even more angry and said, “I can not put up with this humiliation.”
He then went to Delhi to meet Congress Party head Sonia Gandhi to discuss this.
He was then missing for two days and there was no update.
Then suddenly Pilot announced a list 30 MLAs
who had pledged their support to Pilot and would follow him, if he left the Congress.
The Congress then called a sudden press conference at 2.30am on 13th July and said
all 109 MLAs of Congress have signed a letter and expressed their support to the party.
They announced a mandatory meeting for all MLAs at Gehlot’s residence at 10.30 am on 13th July.
If any MLA missed the meeting, strict action would be taken.
Pilot did not attend the meeting.
It is not known exactly how many MLAs attended the meeting.
After the meeting all the MLAs were taken to a resort near Jaipur
to ensure the support from MLAs and avoid any horse trading.
The total number of seats in the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly is 200.
A party needs a majority of 101 seats to form a government.
Congress has 122 MLAs and BJP has 72.
Currently the Congress is worried, that if Pilots leave the Congress with 30 MLAs,
the Congress would lose Majority in the assembly and thus the government.
Sources say that Pilot has been in talks with the opposition party BJP
saying he has the support of 30 MLAs.
But BJP said if Pilots joints, they are ready, but can not give him the post of CM due to internal leadership issues.
Now Sachin Pilot has been removed from his post as Deputy CM.
A similar incident had occurred in Madhya Pradesh.
When MLA Jyotiraditya Scindia left the Congress with his loyal MLAs and switched to the BJP.
The Congress government collapsed and the BJP came in power in MP.
People say something similar may happen in Rajasthan as well.