Published Nov 12, 2022 | 1:20 PM ⚊ Updated Apr 04, 2023 | 8:56 PM
Rajasthan Chief Minister and then likely contender for AICC president post Ashok Gehlot at Bharat Jodo Yatra with Rahul Gandhi at Ernakulam. (Supplied)
When Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot whipped up a supposed “rebellion” against the party in October over AICC president election candidature, he dialled a confidante sitting in Bengaluru, except this person was from the BJP.
A senior parliamentarian of the BJP told South First what his words of advice to Ashok Gehlot were.
“Please remember, chief minister’s chair is even more powerful than the prime minister’s, leave alone party president’s. Even Modi didn’t quit as chief minister ahead of 2014 Lok Sabha poll campaign despite leaders like LK Advani, Murali Manohar Joshi and Sushma Swaraj insisting that he should give up the chief minister’s post if he wants to be declared as the prime minister candidate. Modi refused and ran the whole campaign as Gujarat CM,” was this leader’s anecdotal advice to Gehlot.
What’s more? The BJP leader says he even assured Gehlot that the saffron party wouldn’t sabotage his government if his nemesis Sachin Pilot created trouble.
We will leave it to you to decide if this is some warm friendship or smart politics.
