'Big Conspiracy, Insult': BJP Leader Vasundhara Raje After Rajasthan CM Gehlot Claims She Helped Save Congress Govt In 2020

Former Rajasthan chief minister and senior BJP leader Vasundhara Raje has strongly rebuked Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot's recent statement that she, along with two other BJP leaders, helped save his government during Sachin Pilot's revolt in 2020.

Raje called Gehlot's claims "an insult" and "a big conspiracy", and challenged the Rajasthan CM to file an FIR if he had any evidence that his MLAs received bribes.

In a statement on Sunday (7 May), Raje called out his allegations against Union home minister Amit Shah. She added that Gehlot has insulted her "like no one else in Rajasthan".

In a move seen as both targeting Raje and preempting any challenge from Sachin Pilot and his supporters, Gehlot's remarks today carry a dual significance.

They serve as a potential weapon in the upcoming state elections while also protecting his claim to the top post in case of a Congress victory.

In July 2020, Sachin Pilot and 18 of his supporters MLA rebelled against Gehlot's leadership, which resulted in a month-long crisis.

Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra had to intervene to resolve the issue. Subsequently, Pilot lost his roles as Deputy Chief Minister and state Congress president.

On Sunday, while speaking at Dholpur, Vasundhara Raje's hometown, Gehlot suggested that his government survived with the help of Raje, Kailash Meghwal, and MLA Shobharani Kushwah, reports NDTV.

The Congress rebellion was blamed on a BJP plot by the Chief Minister.

"(Union ministers) Amit Shah, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and Dharmendra Pradhan conspired together to topple my government," he was quoted as saying by news agency Press Trust of India.

"They distributed money in Rajasthan and they are not taking the money back now. I am surprised why they are not demanding the money back from them (the MLAs)," Gehlot said.

Taking a dig at the rebel Congress MLAs, Gehlot said that they should return the money, so they can carry out their duty without any pressure.

"I have even told the MLAs that whatever money they have taken, Rs 10 crore or Rs 20 crore, if you have spent anything, I will give that part or I will get it from AICC (All India Congress Committee)," he said.