BJP chief describes Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot as a ‘bad guy’ (File)
Jaipur:
Rajasthan’s BJP chief Satish Poonia on Monday called Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot “bad” about the crisis that has left the Congressional government on the brink of collapse, and demanded the resignation of the chief minister for “moral reasons”.
Mr Poonia also criticized spending on resorts – Mr Gehlot has isolated a hundred loyal MPs in luxury hotels to guard against poaching. MPs are now at the Suryagarh Hotel in Jaisalmer and previously were at the Fairmont in Jaipur. Mr Poonia claimed that almost Rs 10 crore was spent on this.
“I had said on day one it was congressional bowel struggle and they kept running from place to place. There should be an audit in ‘janta ki adalat“(People’s court)”, he was quoted by the PTI news agency.
“Throughout this episode, whoever is actually a villain tried to become a hero. Ashok Gehlot should resign as chief minister, for moral reasons, as it would lead to the solution of many problems,” said Mr. Poonia to reporters.
Amid the deadlock in Congress – between Mr. Gehlot and rebel leader Sachin Pilot, – the head of the BJP in Rajasthan also criticized the chief minister for neglecting governance issues.
“There are a lot of unemployed people. Rajasthan has become a capital of crime. The government should have taken care of it,” Poonia said and said Mr. Gehlot had not kept the promises of the poll.
Mr Poonia’s comments came as Congress claimed a dramatic “breakthrough” in resolving the situation, with Mr Pilot meeting the Gandhi today for the first time since he launched his revolt.
Sources said the terms of the “return home” of Mr. Pilot and rebel MPs who have declared their support for him have been discussed. This includes agreeing to, according to sources, deal with Ashok Gehlot’s style of operation. However, firing him – one of Mr Pilot’s requests – was “out of the question”, sources added.
Attempts to bring the rebels home, however, risk meeting repression from Mr. Gehlot and his camp, who denounced the “betrayal” of their party colleagues.
The Rajasthan congress was stunned last month after Sachin Pilot, then chief deputy minister and congressman of Rajasthan, threatened to cut the government’s plug.
Mr Gehlot, who claimed responsibility for a BJP plot to destabilize his government, said he had proof of Mr Pilot’s involvement and lashed out at his former deputy in a series of visceral comments, l ‘calling’Nikamma (useless) “and” baby-face “.
The BJP has denied any plot to overthrow the Congressional government and Mr Pilot has repeatedly rejected any rhetoric that he could join the BJP in a sensational change that mirrors the decision of Jyotiraditya Scindia in Madhya Pradesh which led to the fall of Congress in that state. .
With the contribution of PTI
