Rajasthan: Gehlot Faction MLAs Shifted To Jaisalmer From Jaipur; CM Says, "MLAs Are Being Harassed Mentally"

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has claimed the support of 102 MLAs and is preparing for a trust vote in the Assembly session on 14th August.

Ashok Gehlot along with senior Congress leaders Randeep Surjewala (L), Avinash Pandey (2nd from L) and Ajay Maken (R) speaks to media, outside a hotel in Jaipur. (Image: PTI)

Rajasthan Political Crisis: It has been 3 weeks since Sachin Pilot revolted against the leadership of Ashok Gehlot and left for Delhi claiming the support of 30 MLAs. After Pilot's response, the Gehlot faction shifted its supporting MLAs to Fairmont Hotel in Jaipur and today the MLAs are being shifted from Jaipur to Jaisalmer fearing horse-trading, a day after  Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot alleged that the "rates" for buying MLAs were soaring. ALSO READ| Coronavirus: India Surpasses Italy At 5th Spot In Terms Of Highest Covid-19 Deaths; Total Cases Cross 16-Lakh "Our MLAs who were lodged here (Jaipur) for many days, were being harassed mentally. We thought of shifting them, to keep external pressure away", Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot

WATCH:...Our MLAs who were lodged here (Jaipur) since many days, were being harassed mentally. We thought of shifting them, to keep external pressure away: #Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot

Cong MLAs, supporting CM were shifted from Fairmont Hotel, Jaipur to Suryagarh, Jaisalmer today. pic.twitter.com/GDi2iQSQyN — ANI (@ANI) July 31, 2020

All MLAs have been asked to prepare their identification cards in advance and they are expected to stay back and take over work. Two charter plane trips will transport all MLAs to Jaisalmer. Jaisalmer police have been alerted of the developments ahead. After a long series of back and forths, both Governor Kalraj Mishra and CM Gehlot finally agreeing on a date when the Assembly will be convened – August 14. CM Gehlot claims the support of 102 MLAs and wants to prove the majority in the assembly session. BJP Leaders took a dig at Gehlot govt after Congress decided to shift the MLAs to Jaisalmer Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat took a dig at Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot after the Congress MLAs began their journey to reach Jaisalmer. "The Rajasthan government in its own state is wandering at an unsafe rate! This is Gehlot Ji's clear message to the people of the state - protect yourself !!", Shekhawat said.

अपने ही राज्य में राजस्थान सरकार असुरक्षित दर-दर भटक रही है!

यह गहलोत जी का प्रदेश वासियों को स्पष्ट संदेश है- अपनी रक्षा स्वयं करें!!#RajasthanPoliticalCrisis — Gajendra Singh Shekhawat (@gssjodhpur) July 31, 2020

Earlier, Congress had alleged that Shekhawat was involved in the horsetrading of MLAs in Rajasthan after a purported audiotape with the Union Minister's voice was also released by the party, while Shekhawat denied any involvement in the matter. Rajasthan BJP leader Satish Poonia also tweeted asking why is the Rajasthan Cheif Minister scared? "Ahead of Jaisalmer is Pakistan. And on its other side is Gujarat (a BJP-ruled state). So where do you want to go? The CM should let his MLAs free," remarked Satish Poonia, the BJP chief in Rajasthan. Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Thursday indicated he will seek a confidence vote when the assembly convenes next fortnight and claimed that the money offered to the MLAs to switch sides had increased sharply ahead of the session. Gehlot claimed the money offered to MLAs to switch sides has increased sharply after the announcement of the assembly session date, up from Rs 10 crore as the "first installment" to whatever they asked.