Independent ‘rebels’ aspire for Cong tickets in Assembly polls

Jaipur: Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot’s latest statement calling MLAs who rebelled against his leadership in 2020 to return money which they had allegedly taken from BJP leaders to topple his government has created a political stir in the state.

Gehlot said to the MLAs who went to Manesar were given crores of rupees by BJP and now they should return the money to Union Minister Amit Shah and if any share of the money has been spent by them, then he will get it returned from the AICC.

It is palpable from Gehlot’s statement that if the leadership remains in his hands, then the tickets of the MLAs supporting Sachin Pilot and the leaders who were defeated by the rebels in the last elections can be cut.

Meanwhile, independent MLAs who contested the assembly elections as the rebel candidates are also demanding tickets. 11 of the 13 independent MLAs are of Congress ideology as they contested elections after being denied ticket by the party while remaining two contested after BJP denied them ticket.

Gehlot enjoys the support of the independent MLAs. The MLAs have also expressed their desire for a ticket from Congress before the state in charge Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa during one to one meeting. MLA Baljeet Yadav did not meet Randhawa.

12 out of 13 Independent MLAs have demanded for Congress ticket in the next assembly elections. Letters related to their demands were also handed over to Randhawa and PCC president Govind Singh Dotasra. Not only this, they suggested contesting elections under the leadership of CM Ashok Gehlot.

The demand of independent MLAs has created discontent among the Congress leaders who got Congress ticket in the last election and were defeated by them.

Most of these defeated leaders are considered as staunch supporters of Sachin Pilot.