More Trouble For Rajasthan Congress Amid Political Turmoil; I-T Raids CM Ashok Gehlot's Two Close Aides

The raid has come at the time when the Congress led Ashok Gehlot government in Rajasthan has accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of poaching the MLAs to topple the government.

Senior Congress leader and Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot. (Getty Images)

Rajasthan Crisis: Amid the ongoing rift in the two factions of the Rajasthan government, the ruling party continues to face trouble as the Income Tax department raided two of Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot's close aides. According to the reports, almost 200 I-T sleuths raided Rajiv Arora, vice president of the party's Rajasthan unit, and Dharmendra Rathore, hours after the ruling Congress denied any threat to its government in a late-night press briefing. The officials raided at least five different locations linked to the two leaders in four cities including Jaipur, Kota, Delhi, and Mumbai. The raid was reportedly conducted after a complaint of tax evasion was made. The concerning authorities reportedly had prior inputs of huge cash transactions taking place and the alleged links of different business groups to these transactions. As of now, the transactions that were made outside the country are majorly under the scanner. It is to be marked that the raid has come at the time when the Congress-led Ashok Gehlot government in Rajasthan has accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of poaching the MLAs to topple the government. ALSO READ|Rajasthan Politics: CLP Meet Concludes Without Pilot; Party Passes Resolution Urging "Action Against Conspirators" Condemning the raid, senior Congress leader and spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala tweeted: “After all, BJP's lawyers came on the field. The Income Tax Department started raids in Jaipur. When will ED arrive?” Meanwhile, Congress Legislative Party (CLP) meeting led by CM Ashok Gehlot concluded on Monday afternoon with the party passing a resolution supporting Ashok Gehlot-led government. The resolution passed at the meeting read, the ripping off of democracy by Bharatiya Janata Party is an insult to 8 Crore people of Rajasthan. They'll not accept it. CLP meet expresses its confidence in Congress President Sonia Gandhi and leader Rahul Gandhi, and unanimously supports the government led by Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot.