Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot Missing From Sachin Pilot Commemoration Event

Jaipur: The presence of Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot along with 62 MLAs, including 15 state Ministers, in Dausa to observe the death anniversary of former Union Minister Rajesh Pilot has sparked much speculation among political circles in the state. The 62 MLAs present on the occasion on Tuesday included 4 Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) MLAs and 4 formerly independent legislators who joined the Congress in March this year.

Meanwhile, the absence of Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on the occasion showed up the growing factionalism within the Rajasthan Congress, which refuses to die down despite warnings from the party’s central leadership. The coming together of 62 MLAs in Dausa marked the biggest political gathering in the town for the prayer meeting organised here to pay tribute to Rajesh Pilot who died in a road accident on June 11, 2000.

Another Congress worker, however, said: “Gehlot, despite all odds, seems comfortable as Chief Minister. This has been proved three days back when he quietly shifted into the CM’s (Chief Minister) bungalow. State ministers present at the Dausa prayer meeting included Health Minister Raghu Sharma, Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Bhanwarlal Meghwal, Cooperation Minister Udailal Anjana, Transport Minister Pratap Singh Khachriyawas, Woman and Child Development Minister Mamta Bhupesh, Education Minister Govind Singh Dotasara, among others. (IANS)

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