Congress alleges coup a la MP in Rajasthan, avoids calling out BJP

The Congress in Rajasthan, which earlier had ferried its MLAs to a resort on the outskirts of Jaipur fearing poaching bid by the BJP, on Wednesday (June 11) alleged that attempts are being made to destabilise its government by luring party MLAs and Independent legislators, ahead of the Rajya Sabha polls.

Elections to the Upper House of the Parliament are scheduled for June 19.

According to reports, Chief Whip of Rajasthan Assembly, Mahesh Joshi, has shot a letter to the Anti-Corruption Bureau in this regard.

“I have come to know through reliable sources that attempts are being made to lure our MLAs and Independent MLAs who support us, in order to destabilise the government,” he wrote.

The Congress’s worry in Rajasthan stems from the recent downfall of its government in neighbouring Madhya Pradesh after 22 MLAs under the leadership of Jyotiraditya Scindia resigned and later defected to the BJP.  The party which was ruling Karnataka in alliance with JD (S) under the chief ministership of HD Kumaraswamy lost power to the BJP last July, after multiple exits.

Related News: BJP goes full steam to unseat Congress in Madhya Pradesh

“Like Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Karnataka, in Rajasthan, our MLAs and independents supporting us are being lured in an attempt to destablise a democratically elected government, which is completely devoted to the service of people,” Joshi said in his letter.

Rajasthan: Congress Chief Whip & MLA Mahesh Joshi writes to Director General (Anti-Corruption Bureau). Letter states, "I have come to know through reliable sources that attempts are being made to lure our MLAs & independent MLAs who support us, in order to destabilise the govt". pic.twitter.com/rFdUD9pOpB

— ANI (@ANI) June 10, 2020

Joshi restrained from name-calling the BJP in the letter, but in an interview with NDTV on Tuesday, Rajasthan Chief Minister, Ashok Gehlot, had said he has heard “reports that the BJP is willing to spend up to ₹25 to 30 crore per MLA.”

Polls will be conducted for three Rajya Sabha seats in the state this time. It is expected that two seats will go to the Congress and one to the BJP. But with the BJP putting up two candidates, each candidate now needs 51 first preference votes to win. Even though the Congress still maintains a good chance of securing two seats, any defection will turn the tables on it.

Related News: When the BJP bells toll for the Congress govt in Madhya Pradesh

At present, the Congress has 107 MLAs, including six who defected to the party from Mayawati’s Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), last year. It also has the support of 12 independent MLAs. The BJP has 72 MLAs and six others from partners and Independents who support it.

Congress MLAs from Gujarat, have also been brought to Rajasthan to allegedly keep them out of the BJP’s reach. Over the last few months, the Congress has lost seven of its MLAs in Gujarat and three of them resigned recently. Therefore, concerns that this might become a trend hang over the party.

State BJP president, Satish Poonia, responded saying that the Congress in Rajasthan is “feeling insecure.” “Their own house is not in order. They do not trust their MLAs,” Poonia said.

(With inputs from agencies)