Pilot revolts, claims 30 MLAs’ support, Gehlot’s meet today

■ As Sachin, Jyotiraditya meet, buzz over other BJP contacts

Amid the deepening crisis in the Rajasthan government, deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot virtually declared open rebellion, claiming he has the support of 30 party MLAs and some Independents. A statement released on Mr Pilot’s WhatsApp group claimed that the Ashok Gehlot government was now in a minority.

It is learnt that Mr Pilot, who was in New Delhi on Sunday with his supporters, met Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s close aide Ahmed Patel and conveyed his unhappiness over the police notice issued to him over the alleged destabilisation of the Gehlot government. The high command reportedly was also unhappy over such notices being sent to senior leaders. Mr Pilot has now decided to skip the Congress legislature party meeting due to held at Mr Gehlot’s Jaipur residence at 10.30 Monday morning. The statement appeared as state ministers and MLAs were gathering at Mr Gehlot’s house on Sunday night to express support for the CM.

It is learnt Mrs Sonia

Gandhi may speak directly to both Mr Pilot and Mr Gehlot to resolve their differences and save the state government.

The Congress’ main fear is that Mr Pilot may “do a Scindia” in Rajasthan, just like Jyotiraditya Scindia switched sides to the BJP in Madhya Pradesh in March along with 22 supporters, leading to the fall of the Kamal Nath government. Mr Pilot, incidentally, met Mr Scindia in New Delhi on Sunday. There is also a lot of speculation about whether he is in touch with other BJP leaders.

Earlier Mr Pilot, who was in New Delhi with his supporters, was asked by the Congress leadership to return to Jaipur and work under Mr Gehlot. The AICC also rushed a team of three observers to attend the MLAs’ meeting — Delhi leader Ajay Maken, senior spokesman Randeep Singh Surjewala and Rajasthan PCC chief Avinash Pande – and Mr Pilot was asked to meet the observers.

The political drama escalated on Friday after Mr Gehlot alleged that the BJP was trying to bring down his government, offering crores of rupees to MLAs to defect. The BJP, however, dismissed this, saying it was a power struggle between Mr Gehlot and Mr Pilot, who is also the state PCC ■