Last Update: January 23, 2023, 07:30 AM IST
Pilot, who is involved in a power tussle with Gehlot, said on Monday that the paper leak incidents have hurt the aspirations of the youth. (file photo)
Sachin Pilot has been targeting the state government on the issues of paper leak, sidelining party workers and political appointments to retired bureaucrats
The budget session of the Rajasthan state assembly will begin on Monday amid the ongoing power tussle between Congress leaders Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot. Governor Kalraj Mishra will address the assembly at 11 am and Chief Minister Gehlot is likely to announce freebies and populist measures keeping in mind the assembly elections due this year.
A PTI report said that apart from Gehlot, Assembly Speaker CP Joshi, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Shanti Dhariwal, Chief Secretary Usha Sharma and Principal Secretary (Legislative Assembly) Mahavir Prasad Sharma would receive him on his arrival.
Gehlot had allegedly compared Sachin Pilot to “coronavirus” at a pre-budget meeting with employees’ union representatives on Wednesday. Responding to one of the participants during the meeting, Gehlot said without naming anyone, “Maine milna karta hai…Pehle corona aaya… Hamari party me bhi ek bada corona aaya.”
With the power dynamics primarily between Gehlot and Pilot, fireworks are expected in the budget session. Despite efforts to resolve the matter and the rare occasions where both have shown unity, the two continue to be at loggerheads.
Ahead of the state assembly elections in Rajasthan this year, there are indications that Gehlot may continue as CM till the elections, but what could be Pilot’s next move remains in suspense.
In his daily public meetings since Monday in various districts, Pilot has been targeting the state government on the issues of paper leak, sidelining of party workers and political appointments to retired bureaucrats.
The power struggle appears to have subsided for some time during the Rajasthan leg of the Bharat Jodo Yatra, but resumed within days of crossing the state with the two leaders again at war with each other.
Pilot has been addressing ‘Kisan Sammelans’ in various districts, in which he has been talking about how the party was able to form the government after five years of street struggle in 2018 when he was the party’s state unit chief.
In his remarks at rallies, Pilot has cornered the Gehlot government on issues such as repeated paper leaks and political appointments of retired bureaucrats, bypassing party workers.
Also, the Pilot camp’s demand to make him the chief minister has also revived, with leaders loyal to him openly demanding that he be given the top post in the state ahead of the elections due later this year.
Since the formation of the Congress government in December 2018, there has been a tussle between Gehlot and Pilot over power.
Significantly, on February 8, Gehlot will present his fifth and final budget.
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