Rejected speculations of internal strife before assembly elections
Jaipur (ANI): Congress national general secretary KC Venugopal on Wednesday dismissed fears of a split within the party, saying all leaders are working together to ensure the party’s return to the electoral fray in Rajasthan.
His comments come amid speculations in media circles of infighting among Congress members in Rajasthan. The report also expressed the possibility of opening a new chapter in the ongoing feud between Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and his former deputy Sachin Pilot.
“A story is being spread that there is no unity within the Congress in Rajasthan. However, I can confirm that our party is as united as ever.
“All our leaders are standing together and fighting with the common objective of ensuring the defeat and withdrawal of the BJP.” Venugopal told ANI, “I am confident that the mood and pulse of the public is in our favor. nothing to worry about. “Congress is moving towards returning to power in Rajasthan.”
Meanwhile, in what could be a major blow to the Congress ahead of the November 25 assembly elections, BJP’s Rajasthan Minority Morcha and former Rajasthan Haj Committee state president Amin Pathan joined the Congress on Wednesday.
This announcement was made in the presence of CM Ashok Gehlot and Rajasthan Congress in-charge Sukjinder Singh Randhawa.
Pathan, who has been associated with the BJP in various capacities for the last 25 years, expressed his disillusionment with the party.
Speaking to ANI, he praised the work of CM Gehlot and said, “Ashok Gehlot has worked for farmers, youth and women. Seeing his work, I decided to join Congress.”
“For the last 25 years, I have been a BJP worker, councilor and president of various boards. However, it increasingly began to be felt that the party was promoting only a few people and a few industrialists from Gujarat. BJP no longer represents the ideology and principles that attracted me to the party. Now, there are no leaders like Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Bhairon Singh Shekhawat. It seems that BJP has deviated from its basic principles. I am hurt by how BJP has deviated from its ideology.
Pathan told ANI, “I have decided to resign from the party. Ashok Gehlot has worked for farmers, youth and women. Seeing his work, I decided to join Congress.”
Counting of votes for the 200-member Rajasthan Assembly is scheduled to take place on December 3.
In the 2018 assembly elections, the Congress won 99 seats, while the BJP had to be content with 73 seats in the 200-member House.
Ultimately, with the support of BSP MLAs and independent MLAs, Gehlot took oath as CM. (ANI)
