Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Sunday stated that the September 2022 political crisis in the state was a conspiracy to deny him the Congress presidency, reigniting the controversy surrounding the legislature party meeting where MLAs opposed any attempt to make Sachin Pilot chief minister if Gehlot were to step down.
Gehlot's Remarks on the Crisis
“It is repeatedly asked what happened on September 25. There can never be a revolt against the high command,” Gehlot said, adding that the episode was directed against “Sachin Pilot, whose name was being circulated” to take oath as chief minister if Gehlot became Congress president. He explained that a Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting was convened in Jaipur on September 25, 2022, to discuss Rajasthan’s leadership in the event of his election as Congress president. However, MLAs close to him stayed away, held a parallel meeting, and went to Assembly Speaker CP Joshi’s residence to submit mass resignations, opposing Pilot’s elevation.
Rejecting claims that he engineered the crisis to retain the chief minister’s post, Gehlot asserted that the resistance came from legislators unwilling to accept Pilot due to his 2020 rebellion against the Gehlot government, when Pilot and supporting MLAs allegedly camped in Haryana’s Manesar. Gehlot alleged that the 2020 crisis was a BJP conspiracy to topple his government.
Narrative Pushed by Pilot's Associates
Gehlot said the narrative that the September 2022 events amounted to a revolt against the Congress leadership was pushed by Pilot’s associates. “The media spread this narrative, and I remained silent,” he said. He further revealed that he later told Sonia Gandhi he could not get a resolution passed at the CLP meeting, expressed regret, and apologized. “The situation that unfolded... I feel it was a conspiracy. AICC observers arrived suddenly, a spectacle ensued, and I ended up with a bad reputation,” he added.
Gehlot questioned why MLAs did not rally behind Pilot despite speculation about his appointment. “Whenever the high command decides that the chief minister should be replaced, 90% of the MLAs who were previously with the incumbent chief minister switch their allegiance to the new one. What was the reason that when the new chief minister’s name began circulating... MLAs did not go to him,” he said.
Call for Unity and Apology
Urging Pilot to “accept the truth,” Gehlot said, “truth has no alternative,” and maintained that Pilot “made mistakes during the 2020 crisis” and should acknowledge them, while calling for unity. He clarified that he was not seeking any post: “It would be a different matter if a position were to come my way unsolicited. I am not vying for any post.”
Attack on Union Minister Shekhawat
Gehlot also targeted Union minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat after Shekhawat remarked in Jodhpur that whenever Pilot is about to get a new role, Gehlot targets him. “Shekhawat is a worried man. He does not know how long he will remain a minister. He should focus on protecting his ministerial position instead of commenting on us,” Gehlot said. He alleged Shekhawat was linked to the 2020 Manesar episode, claiming meetings related to a conspiracy to topple his government were held at the residences of Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
Gehlot also referred to the Sanjivani Credit Cooperative Society case, reiterating allegations against Shekhawat, and attacked the BJP over inflation. “Inflation hurts women the most. Prices have increased so much that people cannot imagine it. The government has no understanding of the hardships people are facing,” he said.
BJP's Response
BJP state president Madan Rathore said former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot was making statements merely to remain in the headlines and project himself as politically relevant. Given his long experience and three terms as chief minister, Gehlot should exercise greater responsibility and seriousness in his public remarks, Rathore added.
