Rajasthan govt crisis: Dy CM Sachin Pilot to skip Congress Legislative Party meeting

Rajasthan Deputy CM Sachin Pilot will skip the Congress Legislative Party meeting scheduled to be held at CM Ashok Gehlot's residence in Jaipur on July 13. As per sources, over 30 Congress MLAs and some Independent legislators, who have pledged support to him, will also stay away from the meeting. Sources added that Congress president Sonia Gandhi is yet to give time to Pilot, despite his seeking a formal appointment. One of the main friction points between Gehlot and Pilot is perceived to be the Rajasthan Congress chief's post which was retained by the latter despite being pipped by the former to the Chief Minister's position. 

Read: Rajasthan Cong Leader Claims 'will Bring More BJP MLAs' As Pilot & Camp Skip Gehlot Meet

Read: Rajasthan Crisis LIVE Updates: CM Gehlot May Ask All Ministers To Resign; Pilot Skips Meet

Rajasthan government in trouble? 

Addressing a press conference on Saturday, Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot accused the BJP of seeking to topple his government amid the COVID-19 crisis. He claimed that Congress MLAs and Independent legislators were being offered up to Rs.25 lakh each to switch sides on the lines of the recent pattern in Madhya Pradesh. However, BJP refuted this allegation, highlighting that there was infighting among the Congress ranks. Incidentally, Pilot too had denied that his party MLAs were lured after the Congress won two out of the three Rajya Sabha seats in June. 

But, Pilot’s departure to Delhi with some of his supporting legislators on Saturday set off alarm bells in the Congress camp. As per sources, he had a one-to-one meeting with senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel, where he listed a long list of grievances. Some of the MLAs from the Pilot camp are believed to be lodged at Gurugram as well.

Additionally, sources revealed that Pilot had sought a meeting with Congress president Sonia Gandhi to apprise her of the step-motherly treatment being meted out to his faction. As per sources, Pilot met BJP RS MP-elect Jyotiraditya Scindia earlier in the day. Scindia, a former leading Congress leader was responsible for the fall of the Kamal Nath-led government in Madhya Pradesh in March. Meanwhile, Gehlot held a meeting of Ministers and Congress MLAs on Sunday night in Jaipur. Pilot and his loyalists skipped this meeting. 

Read: Rajasthan Plot Thickens As State Police Summons Own CM Gehlot After Deputy CM Sachin Pilot

Read: Amid Rajasthan Tussle; BJP's Jay Panda Drops Big Hint About Sachin Pilot's Eventual Fate