Gehlot Claims Support Of 102 MLAs

Pays ‘courtesy visit’ to Guv Mishra just hours after 2 BTP MLAs assure their support to him

- Sharat Kumar and Dev Ankur Wadhawan

In a major development in the Rajasthan political crisis, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot reached Raj Bhawan to meet Governor Kalraj Mishra on Saturday evening, claiming to have the support of 102 MLAs with him.

The development comes hours after two Bharatiya Tribal Party (BTP)MLAs assured their support to Gehlot. A Raj Bhawan spokesperson, however, said it was a courtesy meeting during which the CM briefed the Governor about the efforts being taken to protect the state from the Coronavirus pandemic. The meeting is said to have lasted for 45 minutes.

Two MLAs of the BTP, in a joint press conference with state Congress chief Govind Singh Dotasra on Saturday, said that they support the Ashok Gehlot government in Rajasthan.

BTP legislators Rajkumar Roat and Ramprasad asserted that their party’s president and other leaders have agreed on extending support to the Gehlot government on the condition that demands related to development of the state are fulfilled.

Gehlot camp MLAs are currently staying at the Fairmont Hotel in Jaipur amid the power tussle in the state.

CONG REITERATES CONSPIRACY PLOT

Several ministers in Rajasthan government lashed out at the BJP on Saturday over the issue of alleged recorded conversations which the Congress claimed was a part of the conspiracy to overthrow the Gehlot government.