Rajasthan Crisis- '100% conspiracy to remove CM, general secretary incharge was a part of it', says Gehlot loyalist

Rajasthan minister Ashok Chandna, who is said to be close to chief minister Ashok Gehlot, on Monday said he has signed the resignation letter and “many did it happily”, news agency ANI reported.

As the Congress seeks to tide over the political crisis in Rajasthan triggered by efforts to find a successor to Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot who is likely to fight the party's presidential polls, sources said status quo will be maintained till the process is over for filing nominations.

"It was 100% a conspiracy to remove the CM (Ashok Gehlot) and the general secretary in charge was a part of it. I am not talking about anyone else, no charge on Kharge but only the General Secretary in charge," Rajasthan minister Shanti Dhariwal was quoted as saying by ANI.

Congress leader Kamal Nath says, "I have no interest in (Congress) President post, only here for Navratri wishes."

After meeting, Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, All India Congress Committee (AICC) in-charge Ajay Maken said: “Will submit written report on Rajasthan situation by tonight or tomorrow”. 

Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot loyalist and state cabinet Minister Pratap Khachariyawas on Monday said that the Congress workers are attempting to save their party and have to be prepared to "spill blood on the roads" against the BJP which he alleged, wants to "topple" the state government.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Monday took a swipe at the Congress over the ongoing political crisis in Rajasthan and said it should first take a 'Congress Jodo Yatra' instead of continuing with its 'Bharat Jodo Yatra'.

Congress's chief whip in the Rajasthan Assembly Mahesh Joshi on Sunday said the party MLAs have no objection to whoever is made the chief minister, but the final decision of the high-command should be agreeable to them, PTI reported. 

AICC observers Ajay Maken & Mallikarjun Kharge arrive at the residence of Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi. They will further give the report to her pertaining to current crises. 

Calling the crisis in Rajasthan a “totally fluid situation”, sources close to Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot told HT on Monday that he may not yet file nomination for the forthcoming Congress presidential elections. Read more

"Apparently Kamal Nath being roped in to mediate between warring factions in Rajasthan! Clearly, Gandhis have little credibility and purchase left now? Admission of their inability ? Ironically, the prime antagonist behind MP factionalism is their pick to solve factionalism! Wow," BJP's Shehzad Poonawalla said.

Congress's high command has asked Madhya Pradesh Congress chief Kamal Nath to immediately arrive in Delhi. He is further likely to mediate in the Rajasthan Congress crisis, ANI reported.

With the deepening political crisis in Rajasthan over the appointment of Ashok Gehlot's successor, Congress Working Committee members have demanded from Sonia Gandhi to pull the state chief minister out of the race for the party chief and select another candidate for the top post, ANI reported.

AICC observer Mallikarjun Kharge after meeting Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot in Jaipur said: "We have informed the Congress president about what happened yesterday. Everybody has to abide by whatever decision is taken eventually. There should be discipline in the party".

Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot arrived at Marriott hotel in Jaipur, reported news agency ANI.

The political drama in Rajasthan over leadership change continued on Monday with MLAs loyal to Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot remaining non-committal on holding a meeting with Congress observers, who are likely to return to Delhi to apprise the high command about the developments, reported PTI.

Amid a high drama in Rajasthan over the CM post, will Sachin Pilot's flight fail to take off as Gehlot's successor? Read here

As the political crisis in Rajasthan over the chief minister's post intensifies, here is an overview of the likely scenarios.

Hoardings featuring Congress MLA Sachin Pilot with the text "Satyamev Jayate, Naye Yug ki Taiyari" put up at various places in Jodhpur.

Amid high political drama over leadership change in Rajasthan, the Opposition BJP on Sunday hinted at imposition of President’s rule in the state. "The current political situation in Rajasthan is pointing towards President's rule. Chief Minister @ashokgehlot51, why are you doing drama? Why is there a delay after the cabinet has resigned? You too should resign,” Deputy Leader of Opposition Rajendra Rathore commented on Twitter.

Congress observers Mallikarjun Kharge and Ajay Maken - who were in Rajasthan on Sunday to attend the legislature party meeting at chief minister Ashok Gehlot’s residence - are expected to meet Sonia Gandhi on Monday afternoon. Read more here

On Ashok Gehlot supporters' condition of 'no CM before October 19' , Ajay Maken told HT that there “seems to be a conflict of interest”.

Congress' Ajay Maken told Hindustan Times that Ashok Gehlot's supporters did not attend the CLP meeting . “We also wanted to follow procedure of speaking to individual MLAs about what they want so that they can speak freely. Very strange that MLAs didn’t come for that,” he said.

Amid the fast-paced political developments in Rajasthan, Food Minister Pratap Singh Khachariyawas on Sunday told PTI that democracy runs on numbers and whoever has the support of MLAs will be the state's next chief minister.

In the midst of the Rajasthan crisis, the Congress poll process also stalled due to AICC central election authority chief Madhusudan Mistry having to be hospitalised. Contenders like Shashi Tharoor will now file on Friday, people familiar with the matter said.

A congress spokesperson, however, told HT that the poll process has just stopped today because of a routine medical check up for Mistry and that he will be back at AICC tomorrow.