Rajasthan Congress Meeting LIVE Updates, Sachin Pilot Vs Ashok Gehlot, Rajasthan Political Crisis Latest News Today: As the political crisis in Rajasthan unfolds, source say that Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot can be out of Congress president's race.
The news comes as AICC observers Mallikarjun Kharge and Ajay Maken met party chief Sonia Gandhi at her residence in Delhi. They went their to brief her on the Rajasthan crisis.
On Sunday, over 90 Congress MLAs had submitted their resignation to Speaker CP Joshi to protest against the likely decision to make Sachin Pilot the state's chief minister if Ashok Gehlot were to resign from the post to fight the Congress presidential election.
Pilot also met CM Gehlot at the latter's residence amid the turmoil.
The resignation of the MLAs came ahead of the Congress Legislative Party meet which was to be held to indicate potential change in leadership. However the meeting was postponed to Monday. It was expected that in the meeting, CM Gehlot would likely resign, making way for Pilot to take up the CM's post.
The resignation by the MLAs brings down the strength of the Rajasthan Assembly to 108 where the halfway mark will be at 55. The BJP has 70 MLAs in the house.
Video Producer/Editor: Shohini Bose
Congress MLA Krishna Poonia with others aboard a bus, leave to meet Rajasthan Assembly Speaker CP Joshi, in Jaipur on Sunday, 25 September 2022.
(Photo: PTI)
Ahead of the meeting, Gehlot said "What more can a person expect, now the new generation should get a chance so that we together can provide leadership in the country."
MLAs Shanti Dhariwal and Pratap Khachariyawas met AICC Observers Ajay Maken and Mallikarjun Kharge at Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot's residence.
Several ministers, including Rural Development Minister Rajendra Singh Gudha and MLA Wajib Ali, have backed Sachin Pilot as the next CM if Gehlot steps down.
While the Congress Legislative Party meeting was scheduled for 7 pm and then postponed 8 pm, it has been further delayed to Monday at the earliest.
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)
'Conspiracy To Remove Ashok Gehlot': Shanti Dhariwal
"It was 100% a conspiracy to remove the CM (Ashok Gehlot) and 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," says Rajasthan Minister and Gehlot loyalist Shanti Dhariwal said, according to news agency ANI.
'Status-quo Till President Election Nomination': Report
Status-quo to be maintained till Congress president election nominations, reported ANI, citing sources. The decision on issuing of show cause notices to miffed MLAs, will be taken after interim president Sonia Gandhi takes action on report by Observers, the report added.
'No Interest In Party President's Post' Kamal Nath
Madhya Pradesh Congress chief Kamal Nath, who was summoned by the party in Delhi, said that he has no interest in party president's post.
"I have no interest in Congress president's post. I am only here for Navratri wishes," Nath said.
Some reports suggest that he has arrived in Delhi to mediate the Rajasthan Congress crisis.
'Gehlot Loyalists Demand CM Post': Maken
While addressing reporters, AICC observers Ajay Maken said that the in Rajasthan, some Congress MLAs had put forward three demands. One of them being that someone from Gehlot loyalists should be made the CM.
"102 Gehlot loyalists had told us that someone among them must be made CM. We told them that their opinion would be presented before party chief and that no conditions are attached to resolutions passed. All leaders are consulted before taking the decision," Maken said.