Jaipur: The internal rift between the Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and his deputy Sachin Pilot, who also double as the Pradesh Congress president is deepening.
This was evident from the absence of Gehlot on the occasion of a memorial service function on the death anniversary of Rajesh Pilot at Bhadana in Dausa. Large number of ministers and Congress MLAs as well as the BSP MLAs and Independents attended the function.
The function has sparked much speculation among political circles in the state and some political observers gave it the shape of a ‘trial of strength’ where Pilot wanted to prove that he has got a large number of ministers and legislators with him who are keen for a change of guard in the state and replace Ashok Gehlot with Pilot.
In all some 12 ministers and 42 legislators attended the function, later Pilot camp gave a figure that 13 ministers and 62 MLAs including BSP and the Independents participated in the function.
The Rajasthan Assembly has an effective strength of 200 and the Congress has 100 members and is supported by 13 Independents and six BSP MLAs.
Two ministers and a few MLAs have been demanding a change in the leadership after the party lost all the 25 seats in the recent Lok Sabha elections.
By Prakash Bhandari
