Ahead of Congress Legislature Party meeting, Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot, party leaders and MLAs flashed a victory sign, apparently expressing confidence that their government has the requisite majority in the assembly.
The Congress Legislature Party meeting began about three hours later than scheduled, with ministers and MLAs flashed victory signs for the cameras.
The Congress said 109 MLAs have already expressed support for chief minister Ashok Gehlot, rejecting the claim by deputy chief minister and the party's state unit president Sachin Pilot that the senior leader does not have the majority.
About 100 MLAs had walked into the chief minister's residence by 12.30 pm, an hour before the meeting actually started.
But some MLAs considered close to Pilot had not arrived till then.
These included G R Khatana, Harish Meena, Ramesh Meena, Vishvendra Singh, Ved Prakash, Mukesh Bhakar and Ramnivas Gawriya
Senior Congress leader and spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said that the Gehlot-led state government is stable and will complete the full term.
He asserted that Congress held a discussion with Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot several times in the last 48 hours.
The party had issued a whip ahead of the meeting, indicating disciplinary action against any MLA who failed to turn up.
In a statement, Pilot, however, had made clear that he would not attend the meeting. He also claimed that he had the support of over 30 Congress MLAs and some independents.
Surjewala said the Congress government in the state is stable and in majority.
