Ahead of Rajyasabha Polls political situation is heating up in Rajasthan. Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot in a Press Conference on Friday, 12th June said that “Narendra Modi-Amit Shah Busy Murdering Democracy in the time of corona crisis”. According to Rajasthan Congress BJP is making attempt to topple his government.
Gehlot claimed that the Rajya Sabha elections could have been conducted two months back, but it was “postponed because BJP’s horse-trading was not complete”.
“At this time, we have to decide who is distributing pain and who is distributing medicine,” Mr Gehlot said, addressing a press conference along with his Deputy Sachin Pilot and other Congress leaders in Jaipur. During the time of CORONA pandemic BJP is not showing interest in fighting with the Virus but gaining it’s power.
The Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot further asserted that the Congress is united and not a single vote of its MLAs will go to anyone else during the Rajya Sabha polls. “Our two candidates will emerge victorious. Two CPI-M MLAs will support us in the election,” he added.
Deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot said the party has enough numbers to win two of the seats and no one is leaving the party. “We have the numbers to win both the Rajya Sabha seats. We have the support of independents. There should be no speculation that we don’t have numbers to win. Don’t mislead people. All MLAs are with us,” he said at the press conference. On Congress MLAs being shifted to resorts, Pilot said, “We have got together at these hotels as we have not met for three months.”
RESORT POLITICS Back in Action:
Earlier, At least 90 MLAs, both Congress and independents were moved to the Shiv-Vilas Resort by the Congress in the state fearing poaching by BJP ahead of the Rajya Sabha polls slated to be held on June 19 for 24 seats out of which three seats each are in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh and four in Gujarat amongst others.
Earlier on Wednesday, claiming a heavy transfer of cash to Jaipur, chief minister Ashok Gehlot said there were reports about the BJP’s plan similar to that of Madhya Pradesh and some of the party MLAs were offered Rs 25 crore in cash with Rs 10 crore in advance. “One of our MLAs was offered Rs 25 crore, 10 crore in advance and 15 crore later as horse trading, but he informed us on time. We have been tipped that a huge cash amount has been transferred from Delhi to Jaipur recently which has been informed to us by investigative agencies,” the Rajasthan CM said.
He also targeted Prime Minister, alleging that the Rajya Sabha elections were postponed under pressure because the BJP could not poach MLAs in Rajasthan and Gujarat.
Congress’ LETTER TO DG:
Meanwhile, alleging a bid to poach the party MLAs and the independent legislators backing the government, government chief whip Mahesh Joshi has forwarded a written complaint to the Director General (Anti-corruption Bureau) about poaching attempts. Congress making demand to take strict action against those BJP worker who were trying to take away MLA’s with money power. Party had asked MLA’s to stay in Jaipur till next order. Like Madhya Pradesh, Gujrat and Karnataka in Rajasthan also our MLA’S are getting lured to destabilise the democratically elected government.
The letter made with “I have come to know through reliable sources that attempts were made to lure are MlA’S”. But the letter did not specify who were in this game of poaching.
The number of Congress MLAs is 106 in the assembly, BJP had 72 MLA’s there are 13 Independents, 2 BTP (Bhartiya Tribal Party), 1 from RLD, 2 from CPM, 3 MLAs of RLP.
BJP’S REACTION:
With these complaint and allegations BJP was triggered and State Spokesperson of BJP, Laxmi Kant Bhardwaj reacted to the letter asking the basis of the contents of Mahesh Joshi’s letter. “These are baseless allegations on the world’s largest democratic party. Congress should provide some evidence otherwise they should be ready for legal action. By doing so, they are not only provoking public sentiment but are trying to stamp out their failures”, he remarked.