Rajasthan Crisis: Over 90 team Gehlot MLAs threaten mass resignation if Sachin Pilot appointed CM

Now 90-plus loyalists have threatened to quit if Sachin Pilot is appointed chief minister of Rajasthan, NDTV reported.

They raised the issue of Sachin Pilot's rebellion in 2020 and asserted that the chief minister should be picked up from among those who supported the government at that time.

Meanwhile, NDTV reported that Ashok Gehlot had a telephonic conversation with central leader KC Venugopal about the evolving situation, where he said, "Nothing is in my hands as MLAs threaten mass resignation".

They also held a meeting and passed a resolution in this regard at MLA Shanti Dhariwal's residence this evening.

Independent MLA Sanyam Lodha told NDTV that if the decision is not taken according to the wishes of the MLAs the government will fall.

The meeting to be held in the presence of central leader Mallikarjun Kharge and Congress's Rajasthan in-charge Ajay Maken, is yet to be held.

Gehlot, who was in Jaisalmer, on his return held a meeting with Kharge and Maken instead, and after that went home.

In the 200-seat state assembly, the Congress has 100 MLAs, as well as the six who switched to the Congress.

In 2020, he had rebelled, camping out in Delhi with 18 supporters.

Gehlot had earlier conveyed to the Congress top brass that he would want to remain the Chief Minister of Rajasthan at least for some time till he found his replacement, who would act as his proxy.

In case, he couldn't find a suitable person to act as his proxy, he wanted to keep both roles by taking over as working president of the Congress with Sonia Gandhi as full-time chief, according to media reports.

For Gehlot, taking up the role of Congress President means giving up the chief ministership, which he is reluctant to part with.

If he does, his arch rival and former deputy Sachin Pilot will find a way to become the Rajasthan Chief Minister.

Both Gehlot and his supporter MLAs don't want this as his position in state politics enables him to wield his power and keep his flock together.

Ashok Gehlot may be the top choice of the Gandhis as the Congress President, but he is unwilling to lose his grip over Rajasthan politics.

He reluctantly gave in after Rahul Gandhi asserted the party's rule of 'one man, one post'.

Amid the speculations about whether or not Gehlot will vacate the post of Rajasthan Chief Minister, his bitter rival Sachin Pilot said the high command would decide.

Gehlot approached the party boss Sonia Gandhi and even requested Rahul Gandhi to get back as the Congress President.

However, Rahul Gandhi remained firm on not contesting the party's presidential elections.

Three years ago in Udaipur, also happens to be in Rajasthan, the party had endorsed the single-post policy.

The last time Congress held the presidential election was in 2017 when Rahul Gandhi was the candidate. Voting was not required as no one challenged him.

Gehlot will be contesting against another Congress veteran Shashi Tharoor, a former minister, and Thiruvananthapuram MLA, who has been vocal about meaningful organisational changes and free and fair internal elections.