Priyanka Gandhi trying to resolve Rajasthan crisis. Sachin Pilot may finally agree to fall in line ?

Today’s meeting at the residence of Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot was stated to be successful with the former’s position out of danger after nearly hundred MLAs expressed their full support to the present CM of Rajasthan.

But despite this Rajasthan CM is so apprehensive that he has shifted all the present MLAs to a hotel which is about 35 kilometres away from Jaipur.

The Congress is more fearful of BJP than its deputy CM and the state Congress president Sachin Pilot who earlier seemed to have finally made up his mind to directly and openly confront the present chief minister Ashok Gehlot by not only not attending the CLP meeting convened at Gehlot’s residence in Jaipur to express solidarity with him but had also make it absolutely clear that he has the solid support of thirty Rebel Lawmakers of Congress including four independents thus posing a direct unambiguous threat to dislodge Gehlot’s Congress government.

However, Ashok Gehlot seems to be very confident of retaining his chief ministership after today’s meeting. A decision has been taken in this meeting with an unanimous voice that those who had not attended the meeting n do not relent would be expelled from the party. That means if the thirty MLAs are expelled n loose their membership, the total strength of the Rajasthan Assembly will come to 170, meaning that Gehlot would require the strength of 85 MLAs where as currently he has 97 to 100 MLAs. Therefore his government will survive by all reasons. There are also reports of some independent MLAs joining the CM camp.

THE EARLIER MEETING OF RAJASTHAN CLP SCHEDULED FOR 11.30 was postponed to 2.30 with the optimism that probably Sachin Pilot would relent and support the leadership of Ashok Gehlot. There were speculations that till now incommunicado Sachin Pilot would return back and attend the CLP meeting along with his loyal MLAs honouring the national leadership but all hopes came down dashing when Rajasthan deputy CM Sachin Pilot issued a statement confirming the support of thirty MLAs that includes the support of four independent MLA as well.

Meanwhile, Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot unambiguously finding his position in disarray has allegedly accused the BJP of encouraging horse trading in Rajasthan to topple his duly elected government. According to latest news reports through sources Pilot has met the senior leader and Sonia Gandhi’s political secretary Ahmed Patel and aired his grievances

He is also trying to meet Sonia Gandhi n Rahul Gandhi say sources. There are speculations that the Congress central leadership n senior leaders are trying to contact Pilot to resolve the impasse by accepting the rebel leader’s all demands.

It is believed that Pilot camp wants four cabinet ministers in Ashok Gehlot’s ministry with home n finance going to Pilot’s side. Currently Home ministry is being handled by the chief minister.

One of the Sachin Pilot loyalist MLA n Tourism minister Vishwendra Singh has cited personal reason for not attending the meeting but is in the capital manipulating things in Pilot’s favour.

Meanwhile, there is another news that Sachin Pilot and Jyotiraditya Scindia, (who was primarily instrumental in dislodging the Kamalnath government in Madhya Pradesh) had met yesterday and deliberated for 45 minutes. There are reports that while Jyotiraditya is trying his best to fetch his young old friend in BJP but sources reveal that Pilot has not given his affirmation till now expecting justice from high command.

However, the CLP meeting at the chief minister Gehlot’s Jaipur residence attended by majority of MLAs as claimed by the CM ( after receiving a signed letter of support from 109 MLAs) including central observer n general secretary KC Venugopal, AICC general secretary n Rajasthan Congress in-charge Avinash Pandey, senior Congress leader Ajay Maken, Congress chief spokesman Sandeep Singh Surjewala was a grand success reveal latest news instilling a great sense of confidence amongst the CM n senior Congress leaders.

While the rift between Gehlot n Pilot is on, the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party does not want to lose the golden opportunity and has started playing its cards to take advantage of the current situation and allegedly manipulate bring Sachin Pilot on their side on the same lines as the previous Congress leader n union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia was brought into BJP camp after he toppled the Congress government led by Kamalnath.

Lots of rumours are agog that Rajasthan deputy CM may join BJP bandwagon and dislodge the Gehlot government. HOWEVER NOTHING CAN BE PREDICTED EXACTLY WHAT’S GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

HOWEVER, if we take a look at the current situation there are total 200 seats of Rajasthan state assembly out of which Congress has 122 MLAs and BJP 72 n rest are the independents n smaller parties. If Sachin Pilot’s thirty rebel Congress MLA’s resign the game of massive horse trading will allegedly start say political analysts. And in case the govt is destabilized the Madhya Pradesh way this would be a greatest rebuff to Congress after losing Madhya Pradesh just four months ago.

According to the latest news all the demands of annoyed Sachin would be met forthwith which include giving four cabinet posts to MLAs of his camp, the post of Rajasthan state Congress would go to his camp’s MLA and may be, Pilot will shift to Delhi and elevated to the post of working president of Congress. There are also news that Sachin Pilot has expressed his desire to form his own regional outfit.

AFTER LOSING Madhya Pradesh, Congress’s top leadership is in no mood to take the risk in Rajasthan and can go to any extent to jeopardise BJP’s chances to exploit the situation to its advantage. The Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi has personally stepped in and is trying to make things right in order to avert the impending crisis. However Pilot is waiting n watching the developments with immense patience and has so far not sought any appointment with either Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi.

It is believed that Sachin Pilot may probably relent thereafter. On the other hand Chief minister Ashok Gehlot’s closest MLA n top jeweller of Rajasthan Arora etc have been raided by the enforcement directorate n Income tax department inviting criticism from Congress leaders.

MEANWHILE commenting in the current development in Rajasthan Congress leader Shahi Tharoor tweeted : I passionately believe that our country needs a genuinely liberal party headed by centrist professionals committed to inclusive politics and respectful of India’s pluralism. All who believe in the founding values of the Republic must work to strengthen @INC India not undermine it.