Rajasthan political crisis deepens as Gehlot loyalists submit mass resignation over Pilot as successor

Amid the deepening Rajasthan political crisis, Gehlot camp MLAs on Sunday late night submitted their resignation to assembly speaker CP Joshi. According to a Press Trust of India report, over 90 MLAs went to Joshi’s home, but the number could not be verified independently. 

The political tussle in Rajasthan erupted ahead of the Congress legislature party (CLP) meeting which was called to decide on Gehlot’s successor, after Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot decided to contest the internal elections for the party top post and negotiations over who would succeed him as CM began. 

However, there was no word from the Speaker’s office on the resignation letters.

Gehlot loyalists have been opposing Sachin Pilot, who was tipped to be Gehlot’s replacement. 

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Gehlot's camp MLAs threatened to resign earlier in order to prevent Sachin Pilot from getting the CM's chair. The MLAs reportedly insisted that someone from their ranks be chosen for the top job.

MLAs in Gehlot's camp cited Sachin Pilot's rebellion in 2020 along with 18 MLAs which had put the Congress government in the state at risk. The Congress leadership is believed to have backed Sachin Pilot to potentially succeed Gehlot.

Meanwhile, Congress leader Ajay Maken has said that the situation has been briefed to Congress’ interim chief Sonia Gandhi, who has instructed to conduct one-to-one talks with Rajasthan Congress MLAs. 

If over 90 Congress MLAs resign, the Opposition BJP would be comfortably over the halfway mark, and could stake claim to form government, as per reports.

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