Ahead of the crucial Congress Legislature Party meeting in Jaipur, the party has claimed that 109 MLAs have given their letter of support to the Gehlot regime. The announcement comes amid Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot's open revolt and questions about whether the Ashok Gehlot government continues to enjoy a majority.
In a late night press conference held in Jaipur, Avinash Pande, AICC General Secretary in charge of party affairs in the state, said that 109 MLAs have given their letter of support to the Gehlot government. “We have contacted other MLAs over phone and they have assured their support to the government,” he said at the briefing held at 2:30am.
Significantly, the Congress has issued a whip to all party MLAs to attend the CLP meeting. Pande said that any absence will be dealt with seriously. “Strict disciplinary action will be taken against any MLA who is absent without mentioning a valid personal or special reason,” Pande said.
Pande rushed to Jaipur last evening as a crisis loomed over Rajasthan Congress after Pilot dug in his heels in Delhi, raising a banner of revolt against the Gehlot government.
Pilot has said that he will not attend the CLP meeting and also claimed the support of 30 MLAs, deepening the crisis for the Gehlot government. Sources close to him deny that he is joining the BJP and said reports that he will meet BJP chief J.P. Nadda today are not true.
The CLP meeting, to be held at Gehlot's residence at 10:30am, will be keenly watched as the next moves by the stakeholders in the emerging political scenario, including the BJP, will depend on the number of MLAs who will be present at the meet.
