Political Crisis In Rajasthan: Where is The Tiff Between Pilot and Gehlot Heading To? A Timeline Of How The Crisis Unfolded

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot sounded the alarm that the BJP is trying to topple the state government. Soon after a rift between Gehlot and his Deputy Cheif Minister Sachin Pilot emerged. Here is how the Rajasthan political crisis emerged.

Photo: AFP

New Delhi: The political crisis in Rajasthan continues even after the state’s Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot who is at the centre of the political storm quashed rumours about him joining the Bharatiya Janata Party. In the past weekend, the grand old party was on tenterhooks as news about internal strife in the Rajasthan government emerged. The rift between Pilot and CM Ashok Gehlot came to light after the latter accused the BJP of poaching Congress MLAs. Here is a timeline of how the Rajasthan political crisis unfolded July 11- Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot accuses the BJP government of plotting to topple his government in the state. Gehlot claimed that while his government is busy battling the coronavirus the BJP is trying to poach Congress' MLAs. Gehlot alleged that the BJP, which is the main opposition in the state, was offering MLAs up to Rs 25 crore or "favours" to switch allegiances and help topple his government. The police start investigating the allegations and Special Operations Group of the state police get involved. According to ADG (SOG) Ashok Kumar Rathore, the police were carrying out an investigation in the smuggling of illegal weapons in the process of which they had taped phones of some criminals. July 12: Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot raises the alarm of defection after he reaches Delhi along with 25 MLAs to meet the top brass of the Congress party. According to sources, Pilot had earlier told party leader Ahmed Patel at a meeting that chief minister Ashok Gehlot was trying to sideline him. Pilot goes incommunicado, and according to media reports his MLAs have been lodged on different five-star hotels in Delhi NCR. Reports also say Pilot also met with BJP's Jyotiraditya Scindia. Later, party President  Sonia Gandhi dispatched a team of top leaders including Delhi Congress leader Ajay Maken, Rajasthan Congress Pradesh Committee (RPCC) chief Avinash Pande, and the party's senior spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala to join all MLA meet organised by state Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot. July 13- Sachin Pilot quashes all the murmurs about him joining the BJP but also says that the Gehlot government has lost the majority. Reports say he may have had second thoughts after three MLAs who swore loyalty to Pilot decided to support the Rajasthan government. Reports say that  Rahul Gandhi asked Pilot to return to Jaipur and work under the leadership of CM Gehlot and maintain the unity of the party.  Gehlot calls for Legislature Party meeting and has warned that those who do not attend will face strict action. Pilot has refused to attend all meetings.