How Ashok Gehlot saved Rajya Sabha seats for Congress
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has added to his stature ever since he ensured that Congress retained its flock together in the Rajya Sabha elections. Gehlot managed to keep all independents, and even managed a CPM MLA to back Congress candidates against his party’s orders.
That the BJP could engineer defections in Gujarat also shows that Gehlot was correct in taking enough precautions by keeping the MLAs at a resort. His move compelled the BJP to worry about its MLAs and they too were moved to a hotel. Gehlot has proved again he has a hold over his MLAs. Some of them are asking that he should hold such stays more often so that MLAs can interact with him freely.
Insiders say a few MLAs expressed their grievances before the CM. Ramesh Meena, the minister who initially refused to join in, came later on but he continues to be angry and has no qualms in being vocal against officialdom publicly. So has Tourism Minister Vishvendra Singh. A confidant of Sachin Pilot, Danish Abrar, the Deputy Chief Minister is in the news for levelling allegations of corruption in construction work carried out at Ranthambore National Park, especially of the boundary wall. Bharat Singh, a seasoned MLA, and ex-minister has expressed his concern about the prevalent corruption and has demanded the dismissal of a minister as the first step towards clean up.
Post the Rajya Sabha polls, Chief Minister Gehlot is expected to make some appointments to boards and corporations and also reshuffle or expand his cabinet and so he knows how to tackle some dissident voices. Some can be rewarded and others can be punished.
(Courtesy of Mail Today)
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