Rajasthan has long history of defections, minority govts

Notwithstanding the Karnataka drama, Rajasthan too has a chequered history when it comes to formation of minority governments and the defections that take place thereof. From Mohan Lal Sukhadia and Bhairon Singh Shekhawat to Ashok Gehlot who’s presently playing a critical role in formation of a Congress-backed government in Karnataka, have triggered defections in opposition camp to win the number game in the Vidhan Sabha.

The first instance was witnessed in 1962 when the Congress led by Sukhadia notched up 88 MLAs - one short of simple majority in the 176-member House. An Independent MLA from Rajargh joined the party to help form the government, then.

The scenario, however, was little different in 1967 when in the House of 182, the Congress had 89 - three short of a simple majority. Sukhadia who was a shrewd politician masterminded the defection of some MLAs of Swatantra Party and managed to wean independent support to ensure the formation of his government. These were the days preceding the anti-defection law but stalwarts like late Bhairon Singh Shekhawat and Ashok Gehlot knew how to circumvent the anti-defection law.

In 1990, The government of Bhairon Singh Shekhawat was reduced to a minority government with just 85 MLAs in the 200-member Assembly.

But Bhairon Singh being a master manipulator split the 55-member Janata Dal and the splinter group called Janata Dal (Digvijay Singh) joined the government. Again in 1993, Bhairon Singh’s acumen came to the rescue of the BJP. The party could win only 96 seats. However, this time it was the Congress infighting that helped Bhairon Singh cobble up a rag-tag coalition with the help of 10 independent MLAs.

In 2009, it was the turn of Ashok Gehlot who lured 6 MLAs of BSP proved to be the proverbial low-hanging fruit for Gehlot who not only engineered their defection from the parent party but also got them enrolled as members of the Congress to take the party’s tally to 102.