Jaipur, June 6: Faultlines within the Rajasthan Congress unit has deepened with one of the party's senior legislator in the state openly calling for Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot's removal. The demand by Todabhim MLA Prithviraj Meena comes amid the calls of introspection issued by at least two state cabinet ministers.

Without mincing words, Meena on Thursday told reporters that Gehlot should squarely be blamed for the party's debacle in Lok Sabha elections. He claimed that only a leadership rejig could rejuvenate the Congress in Rajasthan, following the humiliating loss in all 25 parliamentary seats in the state. Ashok Gehlot Blames Sachin Pilot For Son's Defeat

"Sachin Pilot should become the Chief Minister of Rajasthan. It was because of him we got the majority in Rajasthan. He (Ashok Gehlot) does not have much hold now. The Jatt and Gujjar communities are upset, who will give the vote? If a young man becomes Chief Minister then he does something," Meena said.

Earlier, Rajasthan cabinet ministers Ramesh Meena and Udai Lal Anjana had appealed the Congress high command to "fix accountability", saying that the party has lost all the grounds it reclaimed in the December 2018 assembly polls.

Several other leaders within the Pradesh Congress Committee had conveyed to the leadership in Delhi that Gehlot spent most of his time campaigning in Jodhpur, where his son Vaibhav was contesting.

The sentiment was reflected by Congress president Rahul Gandhi while addressing the Congress Working Committee last month. The party chief told the CWC that Gehlot was busy in attempting to get his own son elected while neglecting the rest of the state.

Gandhi had also refused to meet Gehlot who flew to Delhi following the disappointing results in Lok Sabha polls.

Notably, Vaibhav Gehlot lost to BJP's Gajendra Singh Shekhawat by over 3 lakh votes from Jodhpur.

While speaking to ABP News on Thursday, Gehlot had put the onus on Sachin Pilot, the Pradesh Congress Committee chief, for the his son's defeat.

"Sachin Pilot said Vaibhav should contest from Jodhpur and we would win with a huge majority. He said we have six MLAs (legislators) and we have done very good campaigning there... Sachin Pilot should take responsibility for at least that (Jodhpur) seat," he said.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 06, 2019 10:09 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).