Ahead of RS polls, Cong moves Guj MLAS to Raj

The Congress leadership cannot think any person other than chief minister Ashok Gehlot in this moment of crisis – party has unchallenged faith in him

JAIPUR: : Ahead of the Rajya Sabha elections on March 26 and fear of poaching or cross-voting, a number of Congress MLAS of di f f e r e nt s t a t e s a r e be i ng brought to Rajasthan, people familiar with the development said on Sunday.

With the presence of 73 members in the 182-member Gujarat assembly, the Congress has fielded two candidates for Rajya Sabha from Gujarat. With ruli ng BJP i n Gujarat having fielded three candidates for the election to four Rajya Sabha seats, the Congress now have started shifting their MLAS to Rajasthan from the bordering state.

Over a dozen Congress MLAS from Gujarat arrived in Jaipur on Saturday night amid fear of cross voting in Rajya Sabha elections, people familiar with the development said.

Around 50 more will be reaching the city in next two days – they will be staying here since budget session is underway, people added.

On asking why Rajasthan has been chosen to keep the flock together, he said, “The Congress leadership cannot think any person other than chief minister Ashok Gehlot in this moment of crisis – party has unchallenged f ai t h i n him.” The Gujarat MLAS have been put at a luxury hotel Shiv Vilas on Delhi road, a senior Congress leader added.

In November 2019, the Congress MLAS of Maharashtra were kept in a luxury resort of Rajasthan’s capital city, Jaipur, to avoid poaching of its flock prior to the government formation. Now after bidding adieu to MLAS of Madhya Pradesh on Sunday morning, the party

SENIOR CONGRESS LEADER

brought MLAS from Gujarat on Saturday night, people added.

The Congress leader on anonymity, who worked to provide good hospitality to Madhya Pradesh MLAS, said around 70 Mlas,including three independents, from MP who had arrived and stayed here for four nights, five days left on Sunday morning.

Now MLAS from Gujarat have arrived and more (around 50) will be brought here in next two days, they too are likely to stay for four nights, the Congress leader added.

“BJP is insecure and can go to any extent, they cordoned off their MLAS and even not allowing MLAS access to their phones or meeting anyone but here in Rajasthan there is democracy, sense of security and facilities,” he added.

The leader said Gehlot is meeting the party MLAS — from Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and now from Gujarat, which gives them confidence that they will not be kept in isolation. “Gujarat MP and AICC [All India Congress Committee] treasurer Ahmed Patel is close friend of Gehlot, considering which the Gujarat MLAS are sent here,” he added.

Regarding Rajya Sabha elections on three seats in Rajasthan, he said our efforts are to send message across and ensure that 124 MLAS other than that of BJP are together.

Gehlot on Saturday alleged that BJP has created a situation in the country where elected MLAS were under pressure and horse trading is being done openly.

“It is the reflection of the situation created by BJP that after Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, MLAS from Gujarat are coming here. The BJP has created the atmosphere of terror in the country,” addressing newspersons, Gehlot said, “Where is democracy in the country? Horse trading is being done openly.”

“Why the MLAS from Gujarat want to come here... you can imagine... there is so much mental pressure of money power. Entire country is watching this,” he said.

BJP spokesperson Mukesh Pareek said there is lack of reliability in Congress. The elected representatives of Congress have lost their faith on their leadership and resulting in their MLAS resigning.

The Congress has failed to save their home and it is unfair to blame Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for the same.

Pareek said it would be better if Gehlot focuses on strengthening party organisation and try instilling workers faith on leadership.

Even the party has lost faith on their MLAS and that’s why they are brought here.

Meanwhile in a sudden development, BJP MP Kirodi Lal Meena along with his supporters sat on dharna on Saturday outside the resort on Delhi road where Congress MLAS from MP were staying.

T h e MP l a t e n i g h t wa s detained by the police.