MLAs Angry, Says Ashok Gehlot In Call To Delhi On Congress Crisis: Sources

New Delhi: As more than 90 Rajasthan Congress MLAs loyal to him threatened to resign tonight, Ashok Gehlot reportedly told the party’s central leadership that it was “not in his hands”.

The MLAs want either Ashok Gehlot or his pick to be Chief Minister instead of Sachin Pilot, who is believed to be the central leaders’ choice. They told the Speaker that they were ready to quit even if it meant the government falling.

Sources said Ashok Gehlot spoke on the phone with KC Venugopal, a Congress leader close to the leadership, and said, “Nothing is in my hands. The MLAs are angry.”

Ashok Gehlot, 71, is the frontrunner for Congress president as the party preps for its first non-Gandhi chief after more than two decades. He has yet to file his nomination for the October 17 election to pick a new Congress chief. One candidate, Shashi Tharoor, has already started the process by asking for the nomination papers.

Mr Gehlot has been reluctant to give up his Rajasthan role, especially to Sachin Pilot, whose rebellion almost brought down his government two years ago.

Team Gehlot’s MLAs raised Sachin Pilot’s 2020 revolt and said the next Chief Minister must be one who supported the government at the time.

Though Mr Gehlot has denied any hand in the full-blown crisis, few in the Congress believe that the MLAs would go this far without his blessing.

Mr Gehlot’s control over his flock is well-known and was on full display when he kept over 100 MLAs on his side during Mr Pilot’s revolt.

He had requested the Gandhis that he be allowed to keep his Rajasthan post alongside that of Congress chief, but Rahul Gandhi made it clear that the party would stay true to its “one person, one post” resolve earlier this year.

Mr Gehlot had no choice but to accept it, but he apparently never gave up, as is evident with the show of strength this evening.

Mr Pilot, who has the support of about 21 MLAs, was seen to be the obvious choice to take over when Mr Gehlot moves on, but for now, the odds are stacked against him.