Vasundhara Raje, a senior BJP official, has vehemently refuted the claims made by Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot that she and two other BJP officials assisted in saving his administration from Sachin Pilot’s uprising in 2020. Mr. Gehlot’s assertions were referred to as “an insult” and “a conspiracy” by Ms. Raje, who also urged him to submit a FIR if he had proof that his MLAs had taken bribes.
Ms. Raje criticised Mr. Gehlot’s accusations against Union Home Minister Amit Shah in a statement issued late in the evening and asserted that he had insulted her “like no one else in Rajasthan.” She criticised the Chief Minister’s “double-edged sword” strategies, which are aimed both at Sachin Pilot and his supporters—who could contest his claim to the top post in Rajasthan in the event of a Congress victory—and at her in advance of the 2019 state elections.
When Mr. Gehlot’s then-deputy Sachin Pilot and his 18 allies rebelled against his leadership in July 2020, the Congress’ crisis got under way. Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, two prominent Congressmen, intervened to end the crisis that had lasted for a month. Later, Mr Pilot lost his positions as state Congress president and deputy chief minister.
Speaking in Ms Raje’s hometown of Dholpur, Mr. Gehlot said that the BJP was behind the rebellion inside the Congress. “(Union ministers) Amit Shah, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, and Dharmendra Pradhan conspired together to topple my government,” he was cited as stating by the news source PTI. Additionally, Mr. Gehlot charged the rebellious Congress MLAs with accepting bribes and urged them to return the funds so they may perform their duties free from interference.
Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, a union minister, attacked Mr. Gehlot and referred to him as “Liar Number One” in response to the Chief Minister’s accusation that Congress MLAs were paid crores to switch sides. Why didn’t he file cases against those who stole crores if he is being so honest? In order to win this internal Congress battle, Mr. Gehlot is employing all unscrupulous strategies.
Despite being well-known political opponents, Ms. Raje and Mr. Gehlot are accused by their critics of consistently “going soft” on one another, particularly when it comes to accusations of corruption. The claims have been refuted by both politicians, and the atmosphere is tense ahead of the state elections.