stay in 'lakshman rekha:' gehlot to cong leaders amid row over sloganeering
Jaipur, Aug. 2 -- Former chief minister Ashok Gehlot on Saturday distanced himself from a slogan raised in his apparent support by a former MP which spurred jibes from state party chief Govind Singh Dotasra.
The controversy centred around 400-500 Bharat Adivasi Party (BAP), led by former MP Mahendrajeet Singh Malviya, raising slogans of "Gehlot government for the fourth time" at Gehlot's home in Jaipur before formally joining the Congress on Thursday.
Addressing a workers' meeting in Jodhpur, Gehlot said Sonia Gandhi had made him chief minister for a third time without him asking for the post.
"Becoming chief minister three times is no small achievement. Therefore, slogans like 'Chief Minister for the fourth time' should not be raised. Our priority should be to ensure that the Congress wins," he said.
Gehlot also urged party leaders not to cross the "Lakshman Rekha" (boundary line).
Speaking to reporters at the party office on Thursday, Dotasara had objected to the slogan and took a jibe at Malviya. When asked why Malviya first visited Gehlot, he said, "I don't care who goes where. I welcome every Congress worker. If someone wants to do personal branding, that's their choice. I don't work for anyone's branding; I work only for the Congress."
Gehlot on Friday clarified that there was no formal ceremony at his residence.
"The Congress is completely united. There is no displeasure on either side. He (Malviya) merely expressed what he felt," said the former chief minister....
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