Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot is all set to form his own party called 'Pragatisheel Congress'. With BJP's support from outside, Pilot is likely to become the Chief Minister of the state.
On Sunday evening, Pilot's office had put out a statement and said that Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot's Government is in minority after over 30 Congress and some independent MLAs had pledged support to the Deputy Chief Minister.
Rajasthan Congress held a press conference early on Monday at 2.30 am. Addressing the media, Congress General Secretary Avinash Pande said that 109 MLAs have given support to Congress and Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot.
The Congress Legislative Party had called a meeting on Monday at the Chief Minister’s residence. Ahead of the meeting, party's Rajasthan In-charge Avinash Pande has said that Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot is not responding to calls and has not been communicating.
Pande said the party wants to hear him out but "indiscipline will not be tolerated". "I have tried to speak to Sachin Pilot and have even left messages for him but he has not replied. "Nobody is above party and he has to face action like other MLAs," he added.
Congress leader Randeep Surjewala said that Congress Government is stable in the state and will complete the full term. Speaking to media, Surjewala said, "I want to clearly state that Congress govt is stable in Rajasthan and we will complete the full term. No amount of conspiracy by BJP will be successful in toppling our govt in the state: Randeep Surjewala."
He also claimed that over the last 48 hours, Congress leadership has spoken to Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot a number of times about the present political situation in the state. "If anyone is upset in family, they should find a solution by sitting with members of the family...On behalf of Congress leadership, including Sonia ji & Rahul ji, I convey that doors of Congress party are always open for Sachin ji or any member," he added.
For the uninitiated, a controversy broke out in Rajasthan after Special Operation Group (SOG) sent a notice to Pilot to record his statement in the case registered by SOG in the alleged poaching of Congress MLAs in the State.
Meanwhile, senior Congress leader Sanjay Jha has backed Pilot. He tweeted, "I fully back Sachin Pilot. Look at the facts: Rajasthan 2013 Assembly elections; CM- Mr Gehlot. Result: BJP- 163, Congress- 21 ( lowest ever) Rajasthan 2018 Assembly Elections: Result: BJP-73, Congress-100. One man slogged 5 years for it; Sachin. But who becomes the CM?"
