Despite rebel Congress leader Sachin Pilot declaring that he would not join the BJP, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Wednesday talked tough and accused him of being involved in horse-trading in league with the BJP. Mr. Gehlot alleged that his former deputy was himself “doing the deal” as part of a conspiracy to pull down the Congress government.
Speaker C.P. Joshi issued notices to Mr. Pilot and 18 other dissident Congress MLAs after the ruling party sought their disqualification.
Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala, however, extended the olive branch, calling upon Mr. Pilot and his supporters to return to Jaipur from a resort in BJP-ruled Haryana.
Interacting with mediapersons outside a hotel near Jaipur, where the Congress and the Independent MLAs supporting the government were staying, Mr. Gehlot launched a scathing attack on Mr. Pilot.
He said the rebel leader, who was ousted as the PCC president, was hobnobbing with BJP leaders, offering money to legislators to topple his government.
“After doing the deal, our former PCC chief gave statements that no horse-trading was taking place. What clarifications were you giving when you yourself were involved in it?” Mr. Gehlot said.
In a personal attack on the 42-year-old leader,