Ashok Gehlot Rejects 'Revolt' Tag Over 2022 Rajasthan Congress Chief Race, Calls It 'Big Conspiracy'

Published 8 June 2026 · local

Ashok Gehlot Rejects 'Revolt' Tag Over 2022 Rajasthan Congress Chief Race, Calls It 'Big Conspiracy' Published By, Last Updated: June 08, 2026, 11:53 IST Ashok

Ashok Gehlot Rejects 'Revolt' Tag Over 2022 Rajasthan Congress Chief Race, Calls It 'Big Conspiracy' Published By, Last Updated: June 08, 2026, 11:53 IST Ashok Gehlot dismissed claims that the 2022 Rajasthan crisis was a revolt, calling it a conspiracy that damaged his image and misrepresented his intentions. A file photo of Ashok Gehlot (PTI) Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has sought to set the record straight on the political crisis that rocked the Congress in 2022, insisting that the events surrounding the leadership transition in Rajasthan were not a revolt against the party high command, but a “big conspiracy" that led to his defamation. Addressing the controversy that resurfaced over the September 2022 developments, Gehlot said he had remained silent for years despite widespread perceptions that he had engineered a rebellion to retain the chief minister’s post instead of moving to Delhi as Congress president. In a detailed statement shared on X and in remarks to reporters, Gehlot said he had no reason to reject the Congress presidency if the party leadership had entrusted him with the responsibility. “I am not uneducated. I know the stature of the Congress President’s post. Gandhiji was president, Pandit Nehru, Motilal Nehru, Sardar Patel, if Sonia Gandhi and the Congress were offering me the party president’s post, would I have refused?" Gehlot said.

Gehlot said a false narrative was created that he wanted to remain Rajasthan chief minister and therefore orchestrated a revolt against the Congress leadership. “They created such a situation, and that too was a conspiracy, in my opinion. I think it was a big conspiracy. Suddenly, observers arrived, suddenly there was a tamasha, and I got defamed," he said. According to Gehlot, even many of his close associates came to believe that he had opposed the leadership’s plans. “People think Ashok Gehlot wanted to remain chief minister and did not want to become Congress president, so the revolt happened. Even people very close to me think the same. How do I explain to them?" he said. “If I had revolted against the High Command, would they have kept me as Chief Minister?" he asked. #WATCH | Jaipur, Rajasthan: Congress leader Ashok Gehlot says, “…If Sonia Gandhi and the Congress were making me the Congress President, would I have refused? This was a conspiracy. The observers arrived suddenly…" pic.twitter.com/ofKjEzUXjz— ANI (@ANI) June 7, 2026 The veteran Congress leader said he has now reached a stage in his political career where he is not pursuing positions. In his X post, Gehlot wrote that he was “an extremely satisfied politician" and was not chasing any office.