‘Rebel MLAS hand-in-glove with BJP, unlikely to return’

Pilot in the party -- if that happens, will you restore his position in your government?

I’m in touch with the leadership. Any decision taken by the high command in this or any other issue will be followed. But I’d like to add that they (Pilot camp) are so much hand-in-glove with the BJP that I doubt that they’d come back... They’re sitting in a BJPruled state and enjoying their (the BJP’S) hospitality. The BJP government [in Haryana] is providing them police protection; its leaders are giving statements in their favour. What more evidence does one need to see that they’re in alliance with the BJP?

The Pilot camp alleges that your desire to promote your son Vaibhav (who lost from Jodhpur to the BJP’S Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in the 2019 general elections) prompted you to marginalise your deputy CM and his supporters. That’s totally absurd. I never placed my own or my son’s interests above the party’s. Shekhawat is a big face in the Rajasthan BJP... He’s very close to Narendra Modi, Amit Shah and the RSS ( Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh). Vaibhav’s name came up because there was widespread sentiment that only he could give Shekhawat a good fight in Jodhpur. Had he not f ought, i t would’ve sent out the wrong message that the Congress wasn’t giving the BJP a tough fight in the CM’S home district. I have never promoted Vaibhav in politics. During the Youth Congress elections, he ran a membership drive and wanted to fight elections. I discouraged him because I was the CM then. In the 2009 LS polls, the AICC committee for ticket distribution recommended Vaibhav’s name for the Tonk-sawai Madhopur seat. I was again the CM and I suggested that Namo Narain Meena, who was a central minister at the time, had the first right to fight from there. He later contested and won the seat.

Is it true that Rahul Gandhi brokered a pact in 2018 that Pilot would succeed you as CM before the assembly’s term ends in 2023?

In my whole political career, I’ve never heard the leadership promising a post to any leader in future. It was the Pilot lobby’s campaign for the last five years that the high command has promised them the CM’S office. That’s how they promoted groupism and put self-interest above the party’s interest. They’re totally exposed now. He (Pilot) is saying so to gain sympathy and to tarnish the leadership’s image.

Can you give the exact number of legislators whose support you have in the assembly?

You’ll get to know the exact number when we win the floor test by a thumping majority. This time, every MLA will hear the voice of his conscience and vote. Rajasthan is facing a major crisis of lives and livelihood. In such adverse times, our government has done commendable work. I’ve done 21 hours of video conferencing with all MLAS and MPS representing the state. We got positive feedback across party lines. It’s unfortunate that amid the coronavirus pandemic, the BJP is doing horse-trading and trying to topple our government as they did in Madhya Pradesh.

How optimistic are you of sustaining in power for the remaining tenure of the assembly?

We will definitely complete our tenure. We have already started preparing for the 2023 polls which I am sure we will win.

What’s is your reaction to BJP ally, Hanuman Beniwal’s claim that you were helped by Vasundhara Raje in preventing desertions of some Jat legislators?

I have never compromised with my party’s ideology. To say that I’m getting support from someone (in BJP) is totally false. He has been speaking against Vasundhara Raje for the last 15 years; he’s doing so now to get the blessings of the Modi-shah duo.

How strong is your evidence against Shekhawat in the alleged plot to topple your regime? He has denied any role and questioned the genuineness of the tapes.

As for evidence against Shekhawat or others including Bhanwar Lal S har ma, who e a r l i e r attempted to topple five Governments – it’ll be better to ask the SOG (special operations group of Rajasthan police) or other investigating agencies. The matter is under probe. It’s not appropriate for me to comment at this stage. I believe that truth will prevail.