New Delhi:
After defying the party leadership with a public protest against his party-led government in Rajasthan, senior Congress leader Sachin Pilot is on his way to Delhi to meet the party leadership today. While the possibility of Mr Pilot meeting senior party leaders is yet to be determined, party sources have not ruled out the possibility of Mr Pilot meeting the party leadership.
Sachin Pilot’s fast on Tuesday to put pressure on the Ashok Gehlot government to act against corruption drew a stern warning from the Congress, who said any such action on his part would amount to anti-party activity.
Keeping silence in this matter, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has called a press conference today.
With a backdrop devoid of Congress names or symbols, Mr Pilot began his day-long fast in Jaipur on Tuesday, surrounded by supporters of his party rival Ashok Gehlot, whom he criticized over allegations against BJP’s Vasundhara Raje. accused of not taking action.
Pilot said, “We had assured the people that effective action would be taken against corruption by the previous BJP government. I wanted the Congress government to act, but it has not happened in four years.”
“This fight against corruption will continue,” he said.
Moments after launching his protest, Mr Gehlot posted a video in which he listed his government’s welfare policies, attempting to project himself as a “pro-poor, common man chief minister”.
Declaring the price rise as an election issue, Gehlot said, “Rajasthan will be number 1 by 2029.”
The public spat between the two leaders in Rajasthan has left the Congress deeply embarrassed as it prepares for elections in one of the few states ruled by it.
The Congress leadership seems to have thrown its weight behind Gehlot, at least for now.
“Sachin Pilot’s day-long fast on Tuesday is against the interests of the party and is an anti-party activity. If he has any problem with his own government, it can be discussed in party forums instead of media and public,” Congress leader . Rajasthan in-charge Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa said in a statement on Monday.
“I am AICC in-charge for last five months and Pilot ji has never discussed this issue with me. I am in touch with him and I still appeal for calm talks as he is an undeniable asset to Congress party ” Mr. Randhawa said.
Mr Pilot’s recent clash with Ashok Gehlot is being seen as his attempt to mount pressure on the Congress leadership to resolve the issue of who will be the party’s main face in Rajasthan.