The MLAs said they wanted either Mr Gehlot or his pick to be Chief Minister. (File)
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot apologised to Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge and said he had nothing to do with the rebellion by MLAs close to him, said sources on Monday. The state is witnessing a full-blown crisis as more than 90 MLAs loyal to Mr Gehlot threatened to resign on Sunday. The rebellion by the MLAs, however, can cost Mr Gehlot his shot at the party chief's post.
The Gandhis are reportedly upset at Ashok Gehlot flexing his MLAs and "humiliating" the Congress.
Reports that the Congress leadership wants Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot to replace Ashok Gehlot as Rajasthan Chief Minister triggered the crisis.
The MLAs said they wanted either Mr Gehlot or his pick to be the Chief Minister. They additionally said that the next Chief Minister must be one who supported the government during rival Sachin Pilot's 2020 revolt against Mr Gehlot.
Sources in Delhi said the MLAs were "misled". To arrest the crisis, Congress president Sonia Gandhi sent two central leaders to Jaipur to speak to the MLAs individually.
Here are the Highlights on Rajasthan Congress Crisis:
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Sonia Gandhi seeks report on Jaipur rebellionUpset over an open rebellion in Rajasthan, Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Monday sought a written report on it from party observers Mallikarjun Kharge and Ajay Maken as the chances of Ashok Gehlot becoming the party chief receded and other names cropped up for the post.
Mr Kharge and Mr Maken, who were sent as observers to Jaipur for a Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting, briefed Mr Gandhi in the evening after their return to Delhi and termed the parallel meet held by Gehlot loyalists as "indiscipline".
Team Gehlot MLA targets Congress's Ajay Maken, says "There was conspiracy to remove Ashok Gehlot" as Rajasthan Chief Minister
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Ashok Gehlot Apologises For Rajasthan Revolt But Gandhis Upset
A rebellion by more than 90 loyalist MLAs may cost Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot his shot at the Congress chief's post. Though he has apologised for the situation, the Gandhis are reportedly upset at him for "humiliating" the Congress.
Just In: Ashok Gehlot apologised to Congress' Mallikarjun Kharge, said he had nothing to do with the rebellion by the MLAs, said sources.
Kamal Nath To Meet Sonia Gandhi, May Mediate In Rajasthan Crisis: Sources
Veteran Congress leader and former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath is likely to mediate in the crisis in Rajasthan and will meet party chief Sonia Gandhi in Delhi, sources told NDTV. Ninety-two MLAs in Rajasthan threatened to resign yesterday, saying they want Ashok Gehlot -- front-runner for the post of the Congress national president -- to retain the post of the Chief Minister. The possibility was negated by Rahul Gandhi, who said the party will stick to the "One man one post" rule.
Mallikarjun Kharge, Ajay Maken to submit report to Sonia Gandhi on Rajasthan political crisisAmid the ongoing political crisis in Rajasthan, Congress observers for the state, Mallikarjun Kharge and Ajay Maken reached Delhi on Monday after the Gehlot camp MLAs refused to hold a one-to-one meeting with them.
Both will submit the report pertaining to the crisis in Rajasthan's politics.
"We arrived in Delhi after meeting three MLAs in Jaipur. We are going to give our report to Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi," said Ajay Maken ahead of his meeting with Congress's interim president.
Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge after arriving in Delhi from Jaipur said the decision will be taken by Sonia Gandhi after they submit the report.
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Rajasthan crisis: Mallikarjuna Kharge and Ajay Maken to brief Sonia Gandhi shortlyMallikarjuna Kharge and Ajay Maken are reaching 10, Janpath shortly to brief Sonia Gandhi on the Rajasthan crisis.
"It was a courtesy meeting with Ashok Gehlot," said Mallikarjuna Kharge after arriving in Delhi.
Ashok Gehlot's "Conflict Of Interest" Says Congress In Pushback
As more than 90 Rajasthan Congress MLAs refused to meet central leaders this morning in a huge show of defiance against the Gandhis, the party called it "indiscipline" by the MLAs. The Congress may act against MLAs who organised the revolt in support of Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot.
"There Should Be Discipline In The Party": Congress Leader Mallikarjun Kharge
As Rajasthan MLAs Lay Down 3 Conditions, Congress Leaders' ResponseAmid the brewing political crisis in Rajasthan, two senior Congress leaders Ajay Maken and Mallikarjun Kharge had gone to Jaipur yesterday to try and resolve the impasse after over 90 MLAs threatened to resign if Sachin Pilot succeeded Ashok Gehlot as chief minister.
Ajay Maken said that Congress MLAs Pratap Khachariyawas, S Dhariwal and CP Joshi met him and Mallikarjun Kharge to present demands on behalf of the MLAs.
Their first demand, Mr Maken said, was to implement a resolution awarding the newly elected Congress president, after the polls on October 19, the responsibility to appoint the next Rajasthan Chief Minister.
This condition was shut down by the two Congress leaders who said that if Ashok Gehlot wins the Congress presidential poll race, as he is favoured to, then it would create a conflict of interest. "He would be able to empower himself over his own resolution," Mr Maken said.
The second demand was that the MLAs wanted to come in groups when the two leaders had said that they wanted to talk to everyone individually. "We made it clear that this isn't how it works, but they didn't accept that," Mr Maken said.
The third condition was that the next Rajasthan chief minister should be from the 102 MLAs who are loyal to Ashok Gehlot and not Sachin Pilot or his group.
Mr Maken said, "We said that their exact sentiments will be conveyed to the Congress chief, who will take the decision after talking to Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and everyone else."
"Conflict Of Interest," Says Congress' Ajay Maken On Rajasthan MLAs DemandSenior Congress leader Ajay Maken said today that the Rajasthan MLAs had three demands, among which was to announce the implementation of a resolution "for handing over the responsibility to appoint the Chief Minister to the Congress President after October 19".
"We said it'll be a conflict of interest," Ajay Maken said to news agency ANI.
He went on to say that Mallikarjun Kharge and him had gone to Jaipur as AICC observers to hold a meeting at Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot's residence. "We were continuously telling the MLAs who didn't come to come & talk one-to-one," he said.
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Congress Leaders Mallikarjun Kharge, Ajay Maken Expected In Delhi By 3.30 PMSenior Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Ajay Maken are taking the 2.30 pm flight to Delhi. They had reached Jaipur yesterday to resolve the current impasse after over 90 MLAs loyal to Mr Gehlot threatened to resign if the Chief Minister's post goes to his bitter rival Sachin Pilot. They were to meet the MLAs one-on-one to find a way out of the impasse.
No "One-On-One" Meeting Today, Rajasthan MLAs ConfirmWhile the Rajasthan MLAs who threatened to resign yesterday are not opposed to meeting observers, they not going to meet today as many MLAs have left for their respective homes due to Navratra festival, Rajasthan Cabinet minister Pratap Singh Khachariyawas said today.
Senior Congress leaders Ajay Maken and Mallikarjun Kharge are also returning to Delhi today. They had gone to Jaipur to resolve the current impasse after over 90 MLAs loyal to Mr Gehlot threatened to resign if the Chief Minister's post goes to his bitter rival Sachin Pilot.
Senior Congress leader KC Venugopal is also on his way to Delhi from Kerala.