Ashok Gehlot said yesterday that the BJP was offering MLAs up to Rs 15 crore. (File)
The Rajasthan Congress today claimed they stand together behind Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, denying the daylong crisis precipitated by Rajasthan Deputy Minister Sachin Pilot's Delhi visit.
"The Congress stands united," said the party at a press conference in Jaipur, where three MLAs who visited Delhi yesterday and are seen as part of the Sachin Pilot camp, also appeared.
Mr Pilot, however, claimed that he has the support of 30 MLAs in the state assembly. He is expected to meet BJP chief JP Nadda tomorrow, sources said, in a huge sign that he may be next to exit after Jyotiraditya Scindia.
The crisis in Rajasthan came three months after the Congress lost Jyotiraditya Scindia and Madhya Pradesh to the BJP -- a fallout of the tussle between the party's old guard and the new. Mr Pilot -- who lost the race for the Chief Ministership to veteran Ashok Gehlot in 2018 -- is believed to be in talks with the BJP since before the lockdown. The tipping point came after he was summoned for questioning by the Special Operations Group -- controlled by Ashok Gehlot's home ministry -- over allegations of destabilizing the government.
Ashok Gehlot had also said that the BJP is trying to grab power in the state by bribing MLAs.
Both Sonia and Rahul Gandhi have been briefed about the situation, sources said. "Sonia Gandhi will take a call on the matter and all must work together whatever the differences," the leader said.
Here are the LIVE updates on Rajasthan government crisis:
Sachin Pilot likely to meet BJP chief JP Nadda on Monday, sources said.
Rajasthan Crisis: Why Gandhis Have Not Met Sachin PilotSachin Pilot, who has openly revolted against the Congress and claims the support of 30 MLAs -- enough to bring down the Ashok Gehlot government in Rajasthan - has not got an appointment with the Gandhis so far." itemprop="description
People should take lessons from MLAs who left Congress in Madhya Pradesh: Rajasthan ministerAmid the crisis in Congress party in Rajasthan, State Sports Minister Ashok Chandna on Sunday said that people should take lessons from MLAs who left the party in Madhya Pradesh and had to sit idle for months, reported news agency ANI.
"People should take lessons from MLAs who left Congress in Madhya Pradesh. They sat idle for months and now have been made ministers as polls are nearing. They will lose the election and ministerial post. People should think about it," Ashok Chandna told reporters.
The crisis in Rajasthan Congress has deepened with state Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and his deputy Sachin Pilot at loggerheads.
BJP's Strategy Of Caution As Congress Confronts Desert Storm In RajasthanAs the Congress confronts a desert storm in Rajasthan where the fight between Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot has escalated, the BJP is playing it by ear, say sources. The party has decided that the feud between the Congress top two, which offers fertile grounds for a coup, should run its course." itemprop="description
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Sachin Pilot says 30 MLAs support him amid crisis in Rajasthan, won't attend Chief Minister's Congress meet tomorrow.
Sachin Pilot Ghosts Congress, Leader Says: Left A MessageRajasthan Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot has been incommunicado for the last two days, Congress general secretary in-charge for the state Avinash Pande said on Sunday, as the party scrambled to contain the crisis triggered by Mr Pilot's revolt. However, all Congress MLAs are in touch and the Rajasthan government will complete its term, Mr Pande insisted." itemprop="description
Madhya Pradesh Congress MLA Joins BJP, 6 Others May Follow: Sources
In yet another blow to the Congress, a party MLA in Madhya Pradesh joined the BJP, ahead of the state assembly bypolls on 24 seats. Pradyumna Singh Lodhi, a first-time legislator from the Bada Malahra seat, resigned from his Assembly membership after meeting with Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Uma Bharti.
Sources say around six more Congress MLAs from the Bundelkhand region may join the BJP in the coming days.
"Shri Pradyumna Singh Lodhi submitted his resignation on Saturday. I told him to think over it and not take decision in a haste. Today he again met me and requested to accept his resignation so we accepted the same," Madhya Pradesh Assembly Speaker Rameshwar Sharma said.
Not been approached by BJP: Rajasthan Congress MLAs
Rajasthan Congress MLA Danish Abrar says: "Sachin Pilot is president of Rajasthan Congress and I am secretary of state party unit so my meeting with Sachin Pilot is a routine exercise. We -- Chetan Dudi, Rohit Behra and I -- have not been approached by the BJP."
Rajasthan MLAs, who went to Delhi, say they are with Congress
Rajasthan Cabinet Minister Harish Choudhary says: "At a time when we are fighting against COVID-19, BJP is fighting for the power. The Rajasthan government will complete its full term.
Rajasthan Congress MLA Rohit Bohra says: "We went to Delhi due to personal reasons. If media says we went there for this reason or that, then it's not our problem. We don't want to be part of any controversy. We are the soldiers of Congress and will be with the party till our last breath."
Jyotiraditya Scindia's reaction to Rajasthan Congress and Sachin Pilot
Jyotiraditya Scindia, whose defection to the BJP earlier this year contributed to the Congress collapse in Madhya Pradesh,
taunted his former party as it faced a rerun in Rajasthan with Sachin Pilot seen to attempt a split.
"Sad to see my erstwhile colleague Sachin Pilot too, being sidelined and persecuted by Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot. Shows that talent and capability find little credence in the Congress," Mr Scindia tweeted.
BJP trying to create atmosphere of uncertainty in Rajasthan: Congress leader
Congress General Secretary in-charge for Rajasthan Avinash Pande says all the Congress MLAs are in touch with him. "The government is stable and will last its full term," he tells news agency PTI.
"We are trying to reach out to Sachin Pilot and have left messages for him. Congress president Sonia Gandhi has been updated on developments in Rajasthan."
Mr Pande says everyone should cooperate with Rajasthan Special Operations Group. "There is no harm in joining probe. BJP is trying to destabilise Congress government in Rajasthan... attempting to create an atmosphere of uncertainty in Rajasthan, (BJP) will not succeed."
Sachin Pilot's loyalists threaten revolt over investigating order: Sources
Sachin Pilot loyalists have threatened revolt following the investigating order. "Never before has sitting state president or a Deputy Chief Minister been served such letter," sources close to Mr Pilot said. "The high command has not done anything to intervene," they added.
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has pointed out that he has also received summons for questioning as well as the Chief Whip and it is their duty to cooperate. "No one is above the law," sources quoted him as saying.
Sachin Pilot invited to meeting called by Ashok Gehlot: Sources
Ashok Gehlot's aides said they have invited Sachin Pilot to attend the meeting, but failed to contact him. "We have called this meeting to preempt the BJP, which keeps changing the rules of the game be it in Madhya Pradesh or Manipur," the sources said. "We are taking adequate precautions to ensure that all our MLAS are present," sources said.
Ashok Gehlot calls meeting of Congress MLAs
Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has called for a legislature party meeting at his residence at 9 pm today. Sources said the Congress high command is upset with him for issuing orders to question Sachin Pilot.
Sachin Pilot And BJP Negotiations: 5 Points, According To SourcesThe Congress government in Rajasthan is on the brink with deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot rushing to Delhi with MLAs loyal to him after his hostilities with Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot peaked in the last two days. Sources say Sachin Pilot, who also heads the Congress in Rajasthan, has been in talks with the BJP, which took power in two states earlier, enabled by high-profile defections from the Congress."
BJP working as a political business in Rajasthan: Congress leader
Senior Congress leader PL Punia said while the BJP succeeded in toppling the government in Madhya Pradesh, it would fail to do so in Rajasthan.
Mr Punia told news agency ANI: "The BJP is working as a political business in Rajasthan. They are trying to purchase MLAs by offering them Rs 10-15 crore each as suggested by the Rajasthan Chief Minister. The police have arrested two persons, who were charged with trying to buy elected legislatures. It is very unfortunate."
"As many as 28 MLAs submitted a privilege motion, urging steps to be taken against the BJP. It is in its (BJP's) DNA to grab power by whatever means. They make use of agencies like CBI and ED to run after their rivals," he added.
Worried for Congress: Kapil Sibal
Senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal has expressed concerns over the direction in which the party is heading.
"Worried for our party Will we wake up only after the horses have bolted from our stables?" Mr Sibal has tweeted.
Sachin Pilot upset over summons for questioning
Sachin Pilot is deeply upset over summons for questioning by the Special Operations Group over allegations of destabilizing the government. Mr Gehlot heads the home ministry which controls law and order.
A letter asking Sachin Pilot to appear for questioning in an investigation into alleged attempts to destabilize the state government is believed to have pushed the Congress crisis to breaking point. Mr Pilot was summoned by the Rajasthan Anti-Terror Squad and the Special Operations Group on Friday over the complaint filed ahead of the Rajya Sabha elections byRajasthan Chief Whip Mahesh Joshi.
"We are confident we won't allow a Madhya Pradesh situation to take place again," a senior leader in the party said. "There is an attempt being made to break our government. A lot of money is being given and promised by the Centre and the BJP," sources said.
Sonia Gandhi to take a call on Rajasthan government issue
Both Sonia and Rahul Gandhi have been briefed about the situation, sources said. "Sonia Gandhi will take a call on the matter and all must work together whatever the differences," the leader said.