The Congress on Monday said that Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot have agreed to the party’s “proposal” and will fight the elections unitedly in Rajasthan. (PTI)
Rajasthan Elections 2023: While both Gehlot and Pilot walked out of Kharge’s residence along with KC Venugopal, they remained silent and did not speak to the media. His body language was also not showing any kind of match.
If Sachin Pilot is in the party then why won’t he work with us, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot told reporters on Tuesday, when he tried to inquire about the Congress’s stand on the CM’s manipulations.
“Post is not important for me, I have been chief minister thrice. Today it is my duty to do what the high command wants, which is to win the election. You win trust by giving trust. If everyone moves together, our government will return to power. If you remain loyal to the party, then as Sonia Gandhi had said in the convention that those who have patience definitely get a chance one day or the other.
The statement comes amid reports of unresolved “core issues” between Gehlot and dissident leader Sachin Pilot, despite the Congress projecting unity to take on the BJP in the assembly polls.
The Congress on Monday said the two leaders have agreed to the party’s “proposal” and will fight the upcoming assembly polls together, leaving all issues to be resolved by the high command.
News agency PTIHowever, their sources were quoted as saying that Gehlot and Pilot’s meeting with party chief Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi on Monday did not result in any resolution of “core issues” between the two Rajasthan heavyweights.
He also said that Kharge and Rahul Gandhi first met Gehlot for two hours and then met Pilot separately, after which all the leaders posed for photographs together at Kharge’s residence. The interesting thing is that despite the meeting being held in the same House, the leadership held separate discussions with Gehlot and Pilot.
Also, for a media bite outside Kharge’s 10 Rajaji Marg residence last night, while both Gehlot and Pilot went out with organization general secretary KC Venugopal, they remained silent and did not speak to the media. His body language was also not showing any kind of match.
The meeting took place just after Pilot’s “ultimatum” that he would launch a statewide agitation if his three demands were not met by the end of this month from the state government. Sources close to the pilot said that his demands have been met. The issues raised, particularly with regard to action against alleged corruption during the previous Vasundhara Raje government, remain unresolved.
He said that the pilots are firm on their demands and will continue to press for the issues raised by them if the Gehlot government does not act on them after the meeting. Pilot’s two other demands include restructuring the Rajasthan Public Service Commission (RPSC) and making new appointments in it and compensation to those affected by the cancellation of the government recruitment exam following the paper leak.
Gehlot’s remark that the party high command is strong and would not offer any post to any leader or worker to pacify them also created problems ahead of the meeting. On Gehlot’s swipe, leaders close to Pilot said it is not about seeking individual posts, but the issue of corruption and paper leak is far more important which needs to be resolved on priority.
The party on Monday tried to project that all is well in its Rajasthan unit. Addressing reporters after the meeting at Kharge’s 10, Rajaji Marg residence, Venugopal had said, “Both leaders Ashok ji and Sachin ji had agreed to propose these things.” I have left it to the (party) high command.” Gehlot and Pilot have been fighting for power ever since the Congress formed the government in the state in 2018. In 2020, Pilot led a rebellion against the Gehlot government, following which he was removed from the posts of the party’s state unit president and deputy chief minister. ,
Last year, the high command’s attempt to effect a leadership change in Rajasthan failed when Gehlot loyalists dug their heels in and did not allow a legislature party meeting to take place. Pilot had last month defied a party warning and went on a day-long fast, targeting Gehlot’s “inaction” over alleged corruption during the previous Raje government.
(With inputs from PTI)
