Silence at Sonia Gandhi's residence amid Rajasthan crisis

Amid the political slugfest over BJP's alleged bid to topple the Congress-led Rajasthan government, the official residence of party's Interim President Sonia Gandhi wore a deserted look as no senior party leaders turned up to discuss the matter.

New Delhi: Even as the opposition Congress grappled with an intra-party crisis to save its government in Rajasthan, silence loomed over party interim President Sonia Gandhi's residence at 10 Janpath on Sunday as no senior Congress leader had arrived to discuss the matter.

According to party sources, Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot had arrived in Delhi on Saturday evening to meet the party high command and had sought a meeting with Sonia Gandhi. The political crisis in Rajasthan deepened due to Pilot's rift with CM Ashok Gehlot.

The sources said that at least 25 MLAs said to be from Pilot's camp are staying put in NCR-Delhi region at various places. On the other hand, the Ashok Gehlot camp claims support of 103 MLAs.

READ: Rajasthan political turmoil: Sachin Pilot in Delhi, seeks time to meet Congress chief

The Congress is trying to pacify both the camps in the state, the sources said.

Amid the political turmoil in Rajasthan, around 12 MLAs from Rajasthan had rushed to the ITC Grand Bharat Hotel, located near Manesar, Gurugram, on Saturday evening.

Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Saturday said that BJP is trying to destabilise his govt by luring his legislators and is offering crores of rupees to poach them. He alleged that the ruling party is playing the games at the behest of the central leaders and have converted the political game into a 'slaughter house'.

(With IANS inputs)