BTP whip for party MLAs in Rajasthan: Abstain from voting

Bharatiya Tribal Party (BTP) issued whip to party's two MLAs in Rajasthan to abstain from voting in the event of a floor test of the Ashok Gehlot government in the Rajasthan assembly.

Bharatiya Tribal Party (BTP) National President Mahesh Vasava. (Source: File Photo)

With the ongoing crisis in the Rajasthan state assembly likely to result in a floor test for the Ashok Gehlot-led Congress government, after Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot rebelled with his supporting MLAs, Bharatiya Tribal Party (BTP), which has two MLAs in Rajasthan, has issued a whip asking them to abstain from voting for any side.

BTP National President and Gujarat MLA Mahesh Vasava issued whip to party’s two MLAs in Rajasthan — Ramprasad Dindor of Sagwada and Rajkumar Rot of Chaurasia — to abstain from voting in the event of a floor test of the Ashok Gehlot government in the Rajasthan assembly.

The letter issued late on Monday, in Hindi, states, “Given the looming crisis in the state of Rajasthan, it is likely that there will be a floor test. In such an event both of you will not vote for the Congress. You will not vote for the BJP. You will not vote for Ashok Gehlot and you will not vote for Sachin Pilot. You will remain firm. If you are found indulging in any activity against the party’s whip, strict disciplinary action will be initiated against you.”

Party supremo Chhotu Vasava told The Indian Express that the BTP was left with no choice but to abstain, as it did in the Gujarat Rajya Sabha polls last month.

“We had voted for the Congress in the Rajasthan Rajya Sabha polls last month, but in this situation we have no choice but to abstain. Both the BJP and the Congress are alike. It has become a fashion for greedy Congress MLAs to join the BJP in places where the latter is in power, and vice versa. We have issues related to the tribal communities which none of the two parties is willing to address. We want an undertaking from them about the implementation of Schedule V of the Constitution in tribal areas. If they don’t do that, they don’t get our support,” Chhotu Vasava said.

Aditi Raja

Aditi Raja is an Assistant Editor with The Indian Express, stationed in Vadodara, Gujarat, with over 20 years in the field. She has been reporting from the region of Central Gujarat and Narmada district for this newspaper since 2013, which establishes her as a highly Authoritative and Trustworthy source on regional politics, administration, and critical socio-economic and environmental issues. Expertise: Core Authority & Specialization: Her reporting is characterized by a comprehensive grasp of the complex factors shaping Central Gujarat, which comprises a vast tribal population, including: Politics and Administration: In-depth analysis of dynamics within factions of political parties and how it affects the affairs in the region, visits of national leaders making prominent statements, and government policy decisions impacting the population on ground. Crucial Regional Projects: She consistently reports on the socio-economic and political impact of infrastructure projects in the region, especially the Statue of Unity, the Sardar Sarovar Project on the Narmada River, the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail bullet train project as well as the National Highway infrastructure. Social Justice and Human Rights: Her reporting offers deep coverage of sensitive human-interest topics, including gender, crime, and tribal issues. Her reports cover legal proceedings from various district courts as well as the Gujarat High Court (e.g., the Bilkis Bano case remission, POCSO court orders, Public Interest Litigations), the plight of tribal communities, and broader social conflicts (e.g., Kheda flogging case). Local Impact & Disaster Reporting: Excels in documenting the immediate impact of events on communities, such as the political and civic fallout of the Vadodara floods, the subsequent public anger, and the long-delayed river redevelopment projects, Harni Boat Tragedy, Air India crash, bringing out a blend of stories from the investigations as well as human emotions. Special Interest Beat: She tracks incidents concerning Non-Resident Gujaratis (NRIs) including crime and legal battles abroad, issues of illegal immigration and deportations, as well as social events connecting the local Gujarati experience to the global diaspora. ... Read More

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