The Congress managed to garner the support of eight Independent MLAs after a day of negotiations and presented them before Governor S K Singh on Tuesday night. The party now has enough seats to form the next Government, but is reportedly still negotiating with two more MLAs.The Congress had won 96 of 200 seats in Rajasthan, just five short of attaining simple majority. On Tuesday, it managed 104 seats with the support of eight Independents. Six of the eight Independents were Congress rebels who contested the polls after being denied party ticket. The other two MLAs who pledged support include a BJP rebel and an unexpected Independent winner.“We have more than the requisite numbers to form the government in Rajasthan and have presented eight MLAs to the governor,” said AICC secretary Vivek Bansal. When asked if the party was still engaged in negotiations with more MLAs, Bansal said they were in touch with a few more and wanted to form government as early as possible.The upper echelons of the party such as Pradesh Congress Committee president C P Joshi met few Independents at the party headquarters while chief minister in-waiting Ashok Gehlot met few others at his Civil Lines residence in Jaipur. State in-charge Mukul Vasnik met with the rest. On Tuesday afternoon, Joshi announced, “We have more people than necessary to form the government. The details will be announced shortly.” Negotiations were not difficult and none of the Independent MLAs made exorbitant demands, added senior party leaders.Congress rebels who pledged support include Bhramdev Kumawat from Masuda in Ajmer, Nanalal Ninima from Ghatol in Banswada, Dilip Chowdhary from Jaitaran in Pali, Haraji Ram from Ladnun in Nagaur, Gurmeet Singh Kunnar from Karanpur in Ganganagar and Parsadi Lal from Lalsot in Dausa. BJP rebel Jaideep Dudi from Bhadra in Hanumangarh. A first-time MLA Anju Dhanka from Bassi in Jaipur also pledged support. The party is in touch with BJP rebel Ram Kishore from Bandikui in Dausa and Jeevaram Chowdhary from Sanchore in Jhalod.
