Jaipur: An aide to outgoing Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, Lokesh Sharma, has made allegations suggesting that the Gehlot government tracked and monitored the movements and phone activities of the then Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot during the 2020 political upheaval.
Sharma claimed that the monitoring of Pilot's actions occurred both before and during the rebellion staged by Pilot and his supporters. However, immediate responses from Congress leaders Ashok Gehlot, Sachin Pilot, or their associates regarding these allegations are yet to be issued.
Sharma, who was denied a ticket for the Rajasthan assembly polls, has criticised Gehlot for the party's electoral loss.
He further contended that mishandled ticket distribution was a significant reason behind the Congress's defeat.
Sharma elaborated on the political crisis of 2020, highlighting that if certain incidents, like the legislature party meeting obstruction by Gehlot loyalists in September of the same year, hadn't occurred, the political landscape in Rajasthan might have been different. He even suggested that the Congress leadership contemplated a leadership change, aiming to bring in Sachin Pilot as the Chief Minister, indicating the internal strife within the party.
Regarding the monitoring of Pilot's movements and interactions, Sharma alleged, "When the political crisis of 2020 had come and Pilot ji had left with his 18 MLAs, then in such a situation, the government does put its machinery into use and everyone is monitored, where do these people go, who do they meet and who do they speak with. So that is done and in that manner, their monitoring was also done."
He insisted that the government had some inclination toward the possible rebellion even before it happened, hence the monitoring activities.
Sharma also suggested that the elections could have been approached more effectively, emphasising that despite no anti-incumbency sentiment against the government, several sitting MLAs' tickets should have been reconsidered based on reports, including those from the AICC survey. However, these suggestions were purportedly disregarded.
Refuting claims of personal bias due to being denied a ticket, Sharma clarified that his intent was to address and rectify the existing issues within the party. He maintained that corrective measures were necessary, especially with the looming Lok Sabha polls.
Previously, Sharma had held Gehlot accountable for the Congress's defeat in the Rajasthan assembly polls. Responding to Sharma's earlier statements, Sachin Pilot expressed surprise and suggested the party should investigate the matter.