Dausa: Meena says he’ll contest as Independent

The Meena leader’s relationship with the Congress began chafing over the party ticket from the now reserved Dausa constituency. Kirori Lal claimed he had been insulted by the Congress,particularly Union Minister Namo Narain Meena,who is also in the fray for Dausa.

According to him,the last straw was when Namo Narain Meena told a party rally in Bhilwara on Wednesday that Kirori Lal Meena would never be given a ticket from Dausa. “How can Namo Narain Meena speak about me like this? He and the Congress have insulted me and I will contest the elections as an Independent,” Kirori Lal said.

Employing more pressure tactics,his wife Golma sent her resignation from the Rajasthan Cabinet to Gehlot and AICC president Sonia Gandhi. “We still have faith in Sonia Gandhi and the Congress but have been insulted in Rajasthan that is why I will still support the Gehlot Government but resign from the Cabinet as a sign of protest,” she said.

However,the Chief Minister’s Office late on Thursday said they were yet to receive a formal resignation letter from the Minister of State for Khadi.

Meena,his wife and two other MLAs had extended support to Gehlot after the polls in December threw up a hung Assembly.

Announcing his decision,Kirori Lal said,“We only want good governance and peace. I also asked the Congress to nominate deserving candidates in eastern Rajasthan.”

When asked if he would join the BJP,he claimed that he had severed all ties with the party long ago. “The BJP had also insulted me in the run-up to the Assembly elections. There is no question of going back to the BJP,” he said.

Senior Congress leaders said Kirori Lal was over-reacting and that it was a personal matter between him and Namo Narain Meena. “He should make his stand clear before making demands before the Congress. Till now,it is unclear whether Kirori Lal,who is a former BJP minister,wants to join the Congress or not.”