BJP Again Trying To Topple My Govt, Alleges Rajasthan CM; Saffron Party Rubbishes Claim

Rejecting the allegations, BJP hit back at Gehlot stating that he has failed to run the government and is frustrated and making unreasonable allegations.

(File Photo/ Getty)

Jaipur: Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Saturday alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is once again making attempts to topple his government in the state. The fresh allegations by Gehlot comes almost four months after his deputy Sachin Pilot rebelled against the Rajasthan government along with some other MLAs. Claiming that the BJP was going to start the "game" once again with money power, Gehlot said Congress MLAs had to stay in hotels for 34 days to save his government in July when Pilot and 18 MLAs loyal to him rebelled against the Rajasthan government. Rejecting the allegations, BJP hit back at Gehlot stating that he has failed to run the government and is frustrated and making unreasonable allegations. In July, Congress had accused the BJP of indulging in horse-trading to topple its government in the state, a charge rejected by the opposition party. "Amit Shah in presence of Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Zafar Islam, BJP's Rajya Sabha member, had at that time met Congress MLAs and assured them of toppling the government while asking them to keep patience," Gehlot said while addressing a virtual function to inaugurate a party office in Sirohi's Shivganj. "Ajay Maken, who stayed with us in a hotel for 34 days, knows what was happening in Rajasthan... Zafar Islam, who has now become a Rajya Sabha member and had played a key role in Jyotiraditya Scindia joining the BJP, was also at a meeting which lasted for an hour," Gehlot claimed. "This is how the entire game was played. Randeep Surjewala, Ajay Maken, Avinash Paden, Venugopal, all came and sat here and took decisions to terminate our people and leaders. Only after this, the government could be saved. BJP is doing this conspiracy everywhere. People now say that Maharashtra is the next target... Do not know what will happen. They are going to restart the same in Rajasthan again, this is their thought," he claimed. While on the other hand, BJP state president Satish Poonia said, "It is regrettable, unfortunate, that despite being the chief minister of the state, without having any proof, he took name of Home Minister of India Amit Shah and Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, which is beyond political dignity." He went on to add, "Today the statement of the chief minister of Rajasthan is clear that this government has failed to rule for two years and a mental deviation is seen in the statements of Ashok Gehlot. I think Gehlot has lost his morale and moral courage." In July, a feud between the chief minister and Pilot came out in the open after the latter along with 18 other MLAs revolted against Gehlot's leadership which led to a political crisis in the state for nearly a month.