JAIPUR: In a climbdown after his controversial tweet, minister Ashok Chandna, who finally managed to meet Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot in the evening on Friday, tweeted that he would abide by "whatever decision he (CM) will take" while expressing his support for his leadership.
The youth and sports affairs minister, who was denied an audience by the CM earlier in the day, finally met him and had what he claimed to be a "meaningful and lengthy discussion".
Following the meeting, Chandna tweeted, "There was a meaningful and lengthy discussion on all subjects with the Honorable Chief Minister..."
'Chandna's comment on Ranka should not be taken seriously'
"...He is the guardian of the Rajasthan Congress family, whatever decision he will take will be the right one. BJP (has to) set its house in order, Congress is united and mobilised for Mission 2023."
On Thursday night, he had posted a provocative tweet requesting the CM to relieve him of all ministerial duties because of bureaucratic interference.
On Friday, he failed to meet the CM in his first attempt. He returned to his residence after waiting for his turn for nearly two hours. Chandna was later given an audience with the CM in the evening. He again reached the CM's residence at 6.45pm and left within 15 minutes.
Chandna is considered close to Gehlot and the CM is said to be upset after the minister went public with his grievance giving the Opposition an opportunity to target the government. He had tweeted that he did not want the "humiliating post" because the CM's principal secretary, Kuldeep Ranka, was acting like a minister.
In the morning, Gehlot underplayed the incident saying that the minister appeared to be under pressure because of the upcoming Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Olympics, which is being held from August 29 to October 2, and may have tweeted in "tension". About 30 lakh people will participate in the event.
He also said Chandna's comment on IAS officer Ranka should not be taken seriously. Sources said Ranka was allegedly taking sides in Chandana's tussle with Rajasthan sports council chairperson and Congress MLA Krishna Poonia over organising the rural games.
On Friday, Krishna Poonia held a meeting with officials on organising the rural Olympics and it was decided to hold the torch rally from SMS Stadium in the city on May 29. Poonia also did not attend to calls made for her statement on the issue.
"Ashok Chandna had organised a big sports event at the state level last time. Similarly, the rural Olympics is going to be another big event. For the first time in India, rural Olympics is going to be held on such a large scale," Gehlot said. The minister, however, has not disclosed his reason for giving vent to his frustration through such a provocative tweet.
Chandna's tweet was seized by Rajasthan BJP chief Satish Poonia, who tweeted referring to the state election due next year: and tweeted: "The ship is sinking...The trends for 2023 have started arriving."
Union minister and BJP leader Kailash Chaudhary asked the CM in a tweet, "Chief Minister, which subjects related to the state are you listening to seriously? If you do not listen to your own minister, do not solve his problem and don't take his point seriously, it is unfortunate and shameful."
