Rajasthan Power Tussle: BJP Demands Floor Test; Pilot Claims CM Gehlot Is Short Of Numbers

In a major show of strength, 107 Congress MLAs turned up at chief minister Ashok Gehlot’s residence ahead of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting call.

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Rajasthan Political Crisis: As the power tussle in Rajasthan between CM Gehlot and Deputy CM Sachin Pilot escalates and Congress accuses BJP of horse-trading of MLAs, BJP I-T Cell chief Amit Malviya has demanded Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot for an immediate floor test to prove his majority. ALSO READ| Rajasthan Politics: CLP Meet Concludes Without Pilot; Party Passes Resolution Urging "Action Against Conspirators" Amit Malviya has raised questions on Gehlot's 'resort politics' and has asked if the CM has the support of 107 MLAs then why is he hiding his MLAs in a resort. According to the BJP, Gehlot doesn't have the numbers to prove the majority. Rajasthan BJP Chief also tweeted," There was secession within the Congress; it became clear that this government had been functioning in a chaotic manner for the last two and a half years. The expectations of the people of Rajasthan were not fulfilled and even now the people of Rajasthan do not expect justice. The foundation of the government is based on contradictions."

कांग्रेस के भीतर विग्रह था ;स्पष्ट हो गया कि यह सरकार पिछले पौने दो साल से अराजक तरीके से काम कर रही थी। राजस्थान की जनता की उम्मीदें पूरी नहीं की और अब भी राजस्थान की जनता को न्याय की उम्मीद नहीं है। सरकार की बुनियाद ही अंतर्विरोध और अंतर्कलह पर है।#RajasthanPoliticalCrisis

— Satish Poonia (@DrSatishPoonia) July 13, 2020

Gehlot faction claims to have 107 MLAs The Gehlot supporters have claimed that today's CLP meeting was attended by 107 MLAs and therefore the party has a full majority. According to news agency ANI, 20 Congress MLAs and Sachin Pilot didn’t attend the CLP meeting in Jaipur where a resolution was passed backing Ashok Gehlot. The MLAs were taken to Hotel Fairmont in Jaipur soon after the CLP meeting was over at Ashok Gehlot’s residence. Gehlot was also present inside one of the three buses. Sachin Pilot alleges Gehlot's claims to be false, Demands head count According to ANI, sources closed to Deputy CM Sachin Pilot have said," Ashok Gehlot govt doesn’t have numbers they claim. CM’s back garden isn't the place to prove the majority, it’s done in Assembly. If they have numbers as claimed then why not do a head count, take them to Guv instead of moving them to hotel." If reports are to be believed the top brass of Congress party might offer the position of State Cong Chief to Sachin Pilot while his MLAs are likely to get important portfolios like Home and Finance as Sachin Pilot has claimed that he has the support of 30 MLAs. ALSO READ|More Trouble For Rajasthan Congress Amid Political Turmoil; I-T Raids CM Ashok Gehlot's Two Close Aides Meanwhile, there are reports that some Congress MLAs from Rajasthan supporting Sachin Pilot who were staying at a five-star hotel in Manesar have now returned home. According to sources, these MLAs just wanted a change in CM and did not want to join BJP and there were speculations that some the members of the Pilot faction might switch to BJP. Though Sachin Pilot has quashed the claims of joining BJP and conversation is still going on between pilot and senior Congress leader Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi.