India

Ashok Gehlot wins the trust vote. A huge rebuff to opposition saffron party

THE Rajasthan’s political crisis finally comes to an end after the political drama of over a month as the Ashok Gehlot’s Congress government has finally won the trust vote by raising of hands of about 126 lawmakers owing allegiance to both Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot including the 6 controversial BSP n 11 independent MLAs in the Rajasthan assembly today with opposition Bhartiya Janata Party completely demoralised giving up its demand for floor test as was saying so earlier.

The floor test victory of Ashok Gehlot who had been over confident since a month of his government’s destabilisation by his former deputy Sachin Pilot n 18 law makers’ including three independent rebels, has infact strengthened n elevated the political stature of three times Rajasthan CM though Sachin’s credibility which was at stake earlier has also been resurrected and face saved. Since, Pilot’s rebellion move could not make much difference as was expected earlier, his rehome coming and rescuing Gehlot will definitely pay him dividends in the future say political analysts.

However, by not joining the saffron party on the lines of former general secretary of Congress Jyotiraditya Scindia and ultimately saving the Congress government in Rajasthan n honouring the call of Rahul n Priyanka Gandhi, Sachin Pilot has also infact elevated his stature and send across a strong message in the party at the pan India level that there may be internal differences within the party and could be fought within but the ideology of the party should be respected and honoured at all costs by not defecting to a party which is diametrically opposite to the 135 year old Congress which firmly stands for secularism and communal harmony.

Today’s victory of Congress government in Rajasthan by raising of hands of majority of MLAs has atleast given a new lease of life to Ashok Gehlot as chief minister for another six months.

However, the saffron party is not going to give up its efforts on the lines of Madhya Pradesh n other states previously, say political analysts as foundation of destabilisation has been dug in the state.

The way BJP’s ill conceived designs n notions have been defeated hands down by the Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot by his today’s victory, even after commencement of income tax raids and ED investigations against his near n dear ones, including his son, termed as biased n fabricated on vindictive charges by the former, has made him a taller leader in the party as well as in the national political scenerio with the top BJP leaders, BSP supremo Mayawati n other detractors having been exposed fully.

Though the victory of CM Ashok Gehlot was expected but in view of the wafer thin majority of merely 101 MLAs n the threat from Mayawati n a BJP MLA Nidal having filed cases in the courts, his confidence had been shaken n the former approached the central leadership to bring Sachin Pilot into confidence at any cost. And Rahul n Priyanka finally succeeded in making Sachin Pilot agree despite his adamant posture and annoyance with Ashok Gehlot including his MLAs.

This also unambiguously establishes the fact that Rahul Gandhi n Priyanka are still powerful in the party whose writ runs strongly anticipating respect and honour from every leader, sending good signal in the entire party at the pan India level, especially at a time when the former (Rahul Gandhi) was being diluted by the saffron party in the media terming him as Pappu who was so demoralised after the Congress’s bad performance in the previous national elections that he resigned from President ship refusing umpteen requests for reconsideration of the senior leaders in the CWC.

The Rajasthan victory is therefore not only a huge rebuff to the saffron party, the name of whose Rajasthan leader Jain and union minister Shekhawat was allegedly exposed via an audio clip of poaching charges etc to topple Congress government including rebel Bhanwar Lal 7 times Congress MLA, but a hands down win for both Ashok Gehlot n Sachin Pilot as well, who were highly apprehensive of losing the Congress government as happened in Madhya Pradesh government.

The role of general secretary KC Venugopal, Rahul’s close leutienant , Randeep Singh Surjewala, Ajay Makan n genl secretary Avinash Pandey also could not be ruled out who stood rock solid with Gehlot n worked as a conduit between the CM n the central leadership on the instructions of Rahul Gandhi, including MLAs who remained convinced till the last n stayed in hotels. Meanwhile while speaking in the assembly Sachin Pilot today quipped that he has been sent to the border as a warrior who is a protective wall between Indian n the enemy nation.

This humorous comment came after he was denied the front row seat of the treasury benches with the CM after losing his deputy CM post. Sachin has now been given the second row corner seat near the BJP’ s seats. He quipped earlier he was protected but now nearer to the arch rivals.

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Sunil Negi

Sunil Negi is a senior journalist and president of Uttarakhand Journalists Forum ( Regd). He usually writes on socio political subjects and have been contributing articles in print media for the last several years. Mr. Sunil Negi had been felicitated by All India Achievers conference's Pride of India and excellence awards apart from several other recognitions. He has translated a book on ecological disaster of Uttarakhand of June 2013 and edited and published two editions of Uttaranchal's Who's Who.

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