New Delhi: Days after the massive drubbing Congress suffered in the Parliamentary election in Rajasthan, state Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Tuesday openly blamed his deputy in the government Sachin Pilot for his son Vaibhav Gehlot’s defeat from party stronghold Jodhpur.
“As the state Congress chief, Sachin Pilot should take responsibility for Vaibhav Gehlot losing Jodhpur Lok Sabha (Lower House of Parliament) seat,” Ashok Gehlot told media.
Within six months of forming the government in Rajasthan, Congress lost all 25 seats in the state in the recently held national election.
Gehlot said he had no differences with Deputy CM Pilot but he squarely held him responsible for the poll debacle, particularly in Jodhpur.
“Sachin Pilot said that we will win Jodhpur with a huge margin as we have six Members of Legislative Assembly (MLAs) from that constituency and our poll campaign was great. So I feel he should own responsibility for that seat at least,” the CM said.
Ashok Gehlot had been elected five times from Jodhpur Parliamentary seat. He said that Pilot was confident that Jodhpur will be won with a massive margin.
“He assured us that we will win Jodhpur with a huge margin. That is the reason why I feel Sachin Pilot should take responsibility for that seat at least,” Gehlot added.
After the poll debacle, Congress President Rahul Gandhi had criticised Chief Minister Gehlot “for putting his son above the party.”
Ticking-off Gehlot for camping in Jodhpur for his son’s election, Gandhi said that the CM spent days campaigning extensively for his son in Jodhpur and neglected the rest of the state.
Gehlot had taken part in over 130 rallies and road shows, 93 of them in Jodhpur alone. But Vaibhav lost the Jodhpur seat to Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) Gajendra Singh Shekhawat.
Meanwhile, Rajasthan Congress leader KC Vishnoi on Tuesday blamed Gehlot for the electoral losses in the state.
“The organisation worked really hard and brought the party to power. But within three months the people got upset with the government, the Chief Minister should take responsibility. He should have offered to resign,” Vishnoi said.