EXCLUSIVE| 'Pilot Wanted To Join BJP 6 Months Back, Not In Talking Terms For 1 Year', Says Ashok Gehlot

Gehlot alleged that Sachin Pilot wanted to join BJP 6 months back just like Jyotiraditya Scindia but his plans failed.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot.

Rajasthan Political Crisis: Amid the ongoing power tussle in Rajasthan, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot spoke exclusively to Rajasthan and launched allegations of Horse trading and betrayal on former Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot. ALSO READ|Pilot Vs Gehlot: Rajasthan HC Directs Speaker Not To Take Action Against Rebel MLAs Till Tuesday Evening Gehlot spoke about the sacking of Sachin Pilot, and said,"everything has been within the process, he refused to follow the proceedings of the party, so a decision was taken after discussing with the other member. If Sachin Pilot claims that he has done nothing wrong then he doesn't need the top advocates like Harish Salve and Mukul Rohtagi to fight his case." Rajasthan CM also alleged that Sachin Pilot is playing politics on the behest of BJP. He wanted to join BJP 6 months back just like Jyotiratiya Scindia did a few months back, but his supporters did not agree to join BJP. Therefore, they decided to float their own party and topple the current government. He also alleged that if Pilot brings his own party, BJP will come in support of him and will not stand in opposition as they both have just one objective, that is, to topple the current state government. ALSO READ|BJP Demands CBI Probe Into Audio Tapes Released By Congress As Political Turmoil Intensifies In Rajasthan "During the Rajya Sabha election, we have to keep the MLAs together as BJP tried to poach Congress MLAs that time and what is happening now was bound to happen", said the Rajasthan CM. Gehlot claimed that Pilot has only 15-17 MLAs and it was not right for him to divide the party and leave. He should have resolved his difference within the party. It is not right to be so ambitious in such a young age. "We were not in talking terms for 1 year, and he never addressed his complaints to me. I still say that the new generation can perform better than us but they need to understand the point of view of the experienced leaders. He could have kept patience for some time, he would have gained much more respect than what he has today" said Gehlot. Since the time he became the Deputy Chief Minister he had made an atmosphere that he wanted to be the Chief Minister. He also ignored those who were not loyal to his ideas. Gehlot said, "Even the then Congress President Rahul Gandhi said during the Rajasthan elections, he wants Pilot's energy and Gehlot's experience to bring the best results in Rajasthan. Then why did he betray him, did he not understand what Gandhi was expecting from him, why did he not clearly put his demands on the table back then." Gehlot also said that if he ever felt that Sachin Pilot got more support than him, he would have approached the top brass of the party and recommended his name for the CM's chair if it was in the best interest of Rajasthan. Speaking about the audio tapes which went viral on social media where the Congress MLAs are heard discussing horse-trading with allegedly Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat he said that if anybody can prove that the tapes are doctored and it was done at his office he will quit politics. Sacked Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot and his rebel MLA took a sigh of relief for the next couple of days as the Rajasthan High Court on Friday directed the Assembly Speaker CP Joshi not to take any action against the MLAs till 5 pm on Tuesday evening.