Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot won trust vote in the state assembly on Friday, bring curtains down on the drama and uncertainty that has racked the state government for over a month now.
The state government moved a motion of confidence in the house through its Parliamentary Affairs Minister Shanti Dhariwal.
The motion as passed by voice vote—an expected win after the return of the 19 dissident MLAs led by Sachin Pilot to the party-fold.
Replying to the debate on the motion, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot criticised the BJP, accusing it again of trying to bring down his government.
“I will not let the government topple at any cost even if you make all attempts,” he said.
Initiating the debate on the motion, Dhariwal blamed the Centre for trying to “topple” the governments in Madhya Pradesh, Manipur and Goa, using money and power, but said a similar attempt in Rajasthan would not succeed.
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Referring to Akbar, he said the Mughal emperor had to taste defeat in Mewar of Rajasthan during his quest to expand his empire. Similarly, BJP’s attempts to topple the Ashok Gehlot-led Congress government were defeated, he added.
During the debate, the opposition BJP accused the Gehlot camp of blaming it for the infighting within the Congress.
Sachin Pilot, who was sacked as deputy chief minister after he rebelled against Gehlot, intervened in the debate saying he would fight for the party.
The House later adjourned to meet again next Friday.
