Jaipur: In an apparent rebuttal to his former deputy Sachin Pilot, chief minister Ashok Gehlot on Thursday said the Congress returned to power in Rajasthan in 2018 because of the good work done by him (Gehlot) during his previous dispensation.
Pilot, who has been locked in a power tussle with Gehlot for long, had recently claimed that Congress’ return to power in 2018 was due to his and party workers’ struggle from 2014 to 2018 (when Pilot was the PCC chief).
For the assembly elections due later this year, Gehlot said he has set a target of winning 156 seats (out of 200), which the Congress won when he was the PCC chief prior to the 1998 election. Gehlot said the party was unable to retain power in 2003 due to government employees’ ire, while in 2013, the Congress defeat was due to the Modi wave.
Pilot has been constantly heckling Gehlot over his two previous terms where the Congress could not retain power. The CM said people realised their mistake within six months of BJP rule and claimed that the Congress victory in 2018 was due to the performance of his earlier government (2008-2013).
“I am sure that if the Congress party enters the elections unitedly, we will be successful in our Mission 156. The Congress got 156 seats in 1998, and I was the state Congress president then, and now we are running with the same mission again,” he said.
Gehlot claimed that now “no anti-incumbency, no displeasure among government employees and no Modi wave, I don’t know why my inner self says that no matter what the Opposition says about our shortcomings, the public is not going to accept them.”
He was speaking to the media after the Republic day function on Thursday.
Gehlot said Rajasthan is now the target of the BJP. PM Modi, BJP chief Nadda and RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and his second in command all are now camping in Rajasthan as the BJP, which has mastered the art of toppling the government failed here. He expressed hope that people will support the MLAs who stood by him in saving the government. He said the government has given four good budgets and many model schemes which are now being replicated in other states. The state government’s endeavour is to develop Rajasthan as the No. 1 state in the country.
He said his government is a welfare government and would stand with the needy like during the time of corona and in the coming days.
Replying to a question on Opposition to the right-to-health Bill, he said the government will not impose any Bill and it will be introduced taking into confidence in private hospitals to realise the dream of universal health services. He said their valid points will be taken into account.
Pilot, who has been locked in a power tussle with Gehlot for long, had recently claimed that Congress’ return to power in 2018 was due to his and party workers’ struggle from 2014 to 2018 (when Pilot was the PCC chief).
For the assembly elections due later this year, Gehlot said he has set a target of winning 156 seats (out of 200), which the Congress won when he was the PCC chief prior to the 1998 election. Gehlot said the party was unable to retain power in 2003 due to government employees’ ire, while in 2013, the Congress defeat was due to the Modi wave.
Pilot has been constantly heckling Gehlot over his two previous terms where the Congress could not retain power. The CM said people realised their mistake within six months of BJP rule and claimed that the Congress victory in 2018 was due to the performance of his earlier government (2008-2013).
“I am sure that if the Congress party enters the elections unitedly, we will be successful in our Mission 156. The Congress got 156 seats in 1998, and I was the state Congress president then, and now we are running with the same mission again,” he said.
Gehlot claimed that now “no anti-incumbency, no displeasure among government employees and no Modi wave, I don’t know why my inner self says that no matter what the Opposition says about our shortcomings, the public is not going to accept them.”
He was speaking to the media after the Republic day function on Thursday.
Gehlot said Rajasthan is now the target of the BJP. PM Modi, BJP chief Nadda and RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and his second in command all are now camping in Rajasthan as the BJP, which has mastered the art of toppling the government failed here. He expressed hope that people will support the MLAs who stood by him in saving the government. He said the government has given four good budgets and many model schemes which are now being replicated in other states. The state government’s endeavour is to develop Rajasthan as the No. 1 state in the country.
He said his government is a welfare government and would stand with the needy like during the time of corona and in the coming days.
Replying to a question on Opposition to the right-to-health Bill, he said the government will not impose any Bill and it will be introduced taking into confidence in private hospitals to realise the dream of universal health services. He said their valid points will be taken into account.
