New Delhi: Congress common secretary, Ajay Maken, has resigned as in-charge of the get together in Rajasthan, days after writing to get together president Mallikarjun Kharge, saying he now not wished to proceed.
Sources near Maken mentioned the get together management tried to persuade him to take again his choice however had been unsuccessful.
Maken’s letter to Kharge was seen as an try to put strain on the get together high-command to interrupt the stalemate arising out of chief minister Ashok Gehlot’s refusal to make approach for a youthful management within the state.
Forward of the get together’s presidential election, the Gandhis had been mentioned to be inclined to interchange Gehlot, who was tipped to grow to be the following get together president, with Sachin Pilot as Rajasthan CM. A Congress legislature get together assembly was accordingly convened in Jaipur on 25 September. A big chunk of MLAs — loyal to Gehlot — skipped the assembly.
Maken and Kharge, who had been appointed as senior observers for the assembly by Delhi, had been stored ready on the chief minister’s residence whereas over 90 of the get together’s 107 MLAs held a parallel assembly at Gehlot loyalist Shanti Dhariwal’s dwelling. All this occurred within the presence of Mallikarjun Kharge who later went on to grow to be the get together’s nationwide president.
The incident occurred weeks earlier than the Congress presidential polls, which elected Kharge as the brand new get together chief.
In a one-page letter, Maken referred to this incident and mentioned it was within the get together’s curiosity to have a brand new in-charge.
He additionally mentioned it was “crucial” to have a brand new in-charge as quickly as attainable for the reason that get together’s mega-walkathon, the Bharat Jodo Yatra, would enter the state within the first week of December. There’s additionally a by-election on 4 December, he identified.
Within the letter, Maken additionally mentioned he wish to work in Delhi with commerce unions and NGOs and give attention to civic points.
Maken believes a transparent choice on the Rajasthan management must be taken firmly and shortly after the 25 September episode, ThePrint has learnt.
Gehlot loyalists’ obvious revolt that night sprang from the idea that the Congress high-command wished to interchange the chief minister along with his bete noir Sachin Pilot. At the moment, Gehlot was the frontrunner for the get together presidency, and if elected, would have needed to stop the CM-ship as a result of Congress’ “one man, one put up” rule.
These leaders boycotted pondering the choice to interchange Gehlot could be introduced on the CLP assembly, sources mentioned.
A factional feud between Gehlot and Sachin Pilot over the chief minister’s chair has been public since 2020.
Days after the 25 September incident, Gehlot took ethical duty and pulled out of the race for Congress president, profusely apologising to then get together president Sonia Gandhi.
He additionally mentioned the CLP assembly was known as to go a regular one-line decision authorising the Congress president to take a name on the state management. The get together sought an instantaneous report from Kharge and Maken on these answerable for the incident, after which CLP chief and minister Shanti Dhariwal, minister and chief whip Mahesh Joshi and MLA Dharmendra Rathore had been served showcause notices.
After Gehlot’s apology, get together’s common secretary in-charge of organisation, Ok.C. Venugopal — who was current throughout Gehlot’s assembly with Sonia after the fiasco — mentioned a call on the Rajasthan management could be taken in “two to a few days”.
Over a month and a half after the incident and nearly 3 weeks since Kharge took cost as president, a call is but to be taken.
Sources mentioned this bothered Maken because the showcaused MLAs had been coordinating the Rahul Gandhi-led Yatra. A senior AICC functionary informed ThePrint: “With what ethical authority will Ajay Maken go to Rajasthan to organise Rahul Gandhi’s yatra if the identical individuals who had made a mockery of the CLP assembly are coordinating it?”
Pilot was, until 12 November, engaged as an observer for the Himachal Pradesh polls, which concluded that day.
Gehlot, in the mean time, is busy with the get together’s marketing campaign, as senior observer, in Gujarat the place polls will happen within the first week of December.
The looming disaster in Rajasthan
After Gehlot’s apology and Kharge’s appointment, the Congress high-command has prevented any point out of the Rajasthan incident or a change in management within the state.
Within the state, nonetheless, a management disaster appears to be rising with ministers and MLAs often having a go at one another.
After the showcause notices had been served, Congress MLA from Osian Divya Maderna — who’s the scion of the influential Jat political household, the Madernas — has consistently hit out at Joshi and Dhariwal for allegedly instigating the MLAs to interrupt get together self-discipline.
Equally, Minister Rajendra Guda has accused Dhariwal of corruption and likewise hit out at him and Joshi for the 25 September incident.
Earlier this month, Guda additionally educated his weapons at Gehlot saying all authorities appointments — from constable to DG — had been made on the CM’s behest. Final week, Guda additionally spoke in favour of Pilot turning into the chief minister.
Guda had supported Pilot’s feedback saying the high-command ought to take a call on these answerable for the 25 September incident, hinting at Gehlot.
In the meantime, Pilot continues to maintain his weapons educated at Gehlot. After Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised Gehlot at an occasion this month, Pilot likened him to former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Ghulam Nabi Azad. Azad, who not too long ago had an acrimonious exit from the get together, was additionally praised by the PM final yr.
Final week, former Rajasthan Minister Harish Chaudhary hit out at Gehlot over the CM’s stance on OBC reservations within the state, accusing him of not resolving it.
Additionally learn: ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ will profit Congress in days to come back: Sachin Pilot