The Congress is in neck-deep crisis in Rajasthan three months after it lost Jyotiraditya Scindia and Madhya Pradesh to the BJP -- a fallout of the long-standing tussle between the party's old guard and the new. Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot -- who lost the race for the top post to party veteran Ashok Gehlot -- is in talks with the BJP, sources said, claiming he has the support of 16 MLAs and three Independents. The discussion has been on since before the lockdown -- going parallely with Mr Scindia's. What brought to head was summons to Mr Pilot for questioning by the Special Operations Group over allegations of destabilizing the government. Sources close to him said it has left Mr Pilot deeply upset. Mr Gehlot heads the home ministry which controls law and order.
Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has called for a legislature party meeting at his residence at 9 pm. Sources said the Congress high command is upset with him for issuing orders to question Sachin Pilot. "Both Sonia and Rahul Gandhi have been briefed about the situation. We are confident we won't allow a Madhya Pradesh situation to take place again," a senior party leader said.
Former Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje has the support of 45 MLAs and their first priority now is to bring down the Ashok Gehlot government, sources said. A section of leaders said Sachin Pilot has indicated to the Congress high command that he is ready to form a regional party and won't join the BJP.
Sachin Pilot -- a contender for the Chief Minister's post after the Congress victory in Rajasthan in 2018 -- was given the post of the Deputy Chief Minister. But it was the award of the state Congress chief's post to him in recognition of his work in rebuilding the state party that has been irking Mr Gehlot. With him holding the post for six years, there have been talks of removing him too, sources said.
Differences between Mr Pilot and the Chief Minister have been surfacing regularly since the government was formed. Last year, after the Lok Sbaha elections, Mr Gehlot blamed Mr Pilot for his son's defeat. "Pilot should take responsibility," the Chief Minister had said.
Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has called for a legislature party meeting at his residence at 9 pm. Sources said the Congress high command is upset with him for issuing orders to question Sachin Pilot. "Both Sonia and Rahul Gandhi have been briefed about the situation. We are confident we won't allow a Madhya Pradesh situation to take place again," a senior party leader said.
Former Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje has the support of 45 MLAs and their first priority now is to bring down the Ashok Gehlot government, sources said. A section of leaders said Sachin Pilot has indicated to the Congress high command that he is ready to form a regional party and won't join the BJP.
Sachin Pilot -- a contender for the Chief Minister's post after the Congress victory in Rajasthan in 2018 -- was given the post of the Deputy Chief Minister. But it was the award of the state Congress chief's post to him in recognition of his work in rebuilding the state party that has been irking Mr Gehlot. With him holding the post for six years, there have been talks of removing him too, sources said.
Differences between Mr Pilot and the Chief Minister have been surfacing regularly since the government was formed. Last year, after the Lok Sbaha elections, Mr Gehlot blamed Mr Pilot for his son's defeat. "Pilot should take responsibility," the Chief Minister had said.
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