Rajasthan: 18 Congress MLAs Absent From Meeting Called By CM Ashok Gehlot To Show Strength

At least 18 Congress MLAs did not attend the meeting called by Rajasthan Chief Minister (CM) Ashok Gehlot on Monday (13 July) at his residence in Jaipur, mainly to show his strength and grip over the government.

The meeting at CM residence took place before the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meet today.

According to a ThePrint report, the meeting was attended by 100 MLAs, out of which 89 were from Congress and rest 11 were independents. The Congress at present has 107 MLAs in the state assembly.

The show of strength comes a day after Rajasthan Deputy CM Sachin Pilot, who is in an open revolt against the Gehlot government, claimed support of at least 30 MLAs with him. He said the government was in minority now.

Earlier today, senior Congress leader Randeep Surjewala, who has been sent to Jaipur to resolve the matter, said that the party has kept its doors open for Deputy CM Pilot and his MLAs.

Addressing the media in Jaipur, Surjewala said, "Pilot should tell us when he will come to attend the CLP (Congress Legislature Party) meeting. We have kept our doors open for Pilot and his MLAs. Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi are keen to resolve the crisis."

"We should not give BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) a chance to form the government," he said adding that Pilot should come back to his home as he is a family member of the Congress.

The BJP at present has 72 MLAs of its own in the 200-member-strong house.