Pilot camp created crisis, we saved Gehlot govt: BSP MLAs

JAIPUR: Expressing faith in chief minister Ashok Gehlot’s leadership, BSP MLAs who merged with the Congress in 2019 objected to any move by the Congress high command to pacify the Pilot camp, saying it was because of them the government was in a deep crisis last year.

The MLAs said that the government could be saved only because six of them, who merged with the Congress, and 10 independents had supported it. “They (Pilot loyalists) are repeatedly talking about the workers and their share in the government, but it was because of them the government was in crisis last year. The government was saved only because we six and other independents stood by the government firmly,” Tijara MLA Sandeep Kumar Yadav told reporters on Tuesday.

“The Congress high command should not listen to them. Those who saved the government should get rewards and honour.”

Other MLAs -- Jogendra Awana, Rajendra Gudha and Lakhan Singh -- also said that the Ashok Gehlot government was about to fall because of Pilot and his loyalist MLAs.

All four MLAs held a press conference and asserted that the Congress leadership should not ignore the fact that the government could be saved by six of them and 10 independents.

When asked about cabinet expansion, Rajendra Gudha said that it was the prerogative of the chief minister. “We MLAs were standing by the government. Now it is the time to recognise who was with the government and who was against it.”

MLA Rakesh Pareek, a Pilot loyalist, said the BSP MLAs merged with the Congress in greed for power. “They fought against party candidates. We never thought of going against the party,” he said. “Why can’t we approach the high command over our issues? When Pilot assumed the charge as state Congress chief, the party had 21 seats in the assembly. After a long struggle we have reached here. The CM is our respectful leader.”