Last Updated on 05/03/2022 by Nidhi Khandelwal
During the course of the current Gehlot government, Congress kept its MLAs, including those from Rajasthan and Maharashtra, in five-star hotels and resorts on multiple occasions.
On March 10, the results of elections in five states will be announced. The rumour in Rajasthan’s political circles is that if the Congress is able to form government in one or more states, like Punjab and Goa, its legislators will be locked up in Jaipur’s five-star hotels and opulent resorts to avoid poaching.
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, a veteran Congressman and close confidante of the Gandhi family, has reviewed the matter with senior party officials, including Sonia Gandhi, KC Venugopal, and Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi.
According to reports, Gehlot was recently in Delhi, where the potential of Congress MLAs being forced to stay in five-star hotels and opulent resorts in Jaipur to keep them away from prying eyes was discussed in case the party wins some of the states.
In at least three of the five states, the Congress aims to do well: Punjab, Uttarakhand, Goa, and Uttar Pradesh.
After some of its MLAs deserted in Goa during the 2017 Assembly election, the Congress was chastised. Despite winning the most votes in the election, the Congress was unable to establish a government.
Within Congress circles, it is believed that Rajasthan is perhaps the best state to avert “horse-trading” attempts if the party comes within striking distance of forming a government, hires Sunil Kanugolu as chief election strategist for grand old party
The Congress had lost power in Madhya Pradesh after several of its MLAs, including party leader Jyotiraditya Scindia, defected to the BJP. Senior leaders within the Congress believe that Ashok Gehlot is best suited to ensure that party MLAs are kept in secured environs of 5-star hotels and luxurious resorts with a 24-hour vigil to save them from poaching.
Rajasthan is considered by some in Congress circles to be the best state to avoid “horse-trading” attempts if the party comes close to gaining government. Sunil Kanugolu has been hired as the grand old party’s chief election strategist.
After some of its MLAs, including party leader Jyotiraditya Scindia, defected to the BJP, the Congress lost control in Madhya Pradesh. Senior Congress leaders believe Ashok Gehlot is best qualified to ensure that party MLAs are kept safe in 5-star hotels and expensive resorts with a 24-hour watch to prevent them from being poached.
