'Didn't Know Who They Were Dealing With': Rajasthan CM Recalls 2020 Cong Revolt In Run-up To Polls

Gehlot held road shows and corner meetings in various localities of the constituency.

File photo of Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot

New Delhi: In the run-up to the assembly elections in Rajasthan, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Tuesday recalled the attempt to topple his government in 2020 while campaigning in his assembly constituency. He said that those who tried it, "did not know who they were dealing with," reported news agency PTI. 

In July 2020, Sachin Pilot, who was the deputy to Gehlot at that time, along with 18 other Congress MLAs, revolted against Gehlot. This month-long crisis was resolved with the intervention of the party's high command. As a result, Pilot was subsequently removed from his positions as the deputy chief minister and state Congress president.

“I have been the chief minister of the state three times. I completed all these three terms which is a big thing," Gehlot said while campaigning in his constituency Sardarpura for the second day.

"It is not just that I completed all these three terms... they tried to topple my government this time but they failed. They thought that they would succeed here as well, but they had no idea who they were dealing with” he added.

Gehlot held road shows and corner meetings in various localities of the constituency.

While Gehlot-Pilot ties have been strained since, with both openly taking pot-shots at each other, the party has been putting up a united face in the state in the run-up to the November 25 Assembly polls.

Gehlot expressed gratitude to the people and sought their blessings for the upcoming election, reported PTI.

On Tuesday, his campaigning was focused on Mandore - a Mali-dominant area. Gehlot, who belongs to the Mali community, also attended a felicitation programme organised by the community in which 836 meritorious students were honoured.

While addressing various gatherings, Gehlot said that it was his duty to come to his constituency immediately after getting the ticket and express his gratitude to them.

“You have always blessed me. So it was my duty to come to you first. Now, with your permission I would leave to take care of the remaining 199 seats,” he said. 

Rajasthan assembly polls will be held on November 25. The 200-member house will go to polls in single-phase. The counting of votes will take place on December 3.