Rajasthan Congress unit has seen days of yore with its two most important leaders in recent times fighting causing an almost rift in the party. Empirical experiences for the grand old party coupled with bitter experiences of failed governments have kept the Mallikarjun Kharge helmed party and their authorities on toes, hoping to avoid another such debacle.
Rajasthan Congress is one such wayward unit for the Congress High Command, where in two Congress leaders with significant support has turned in warring camps, albeit under the same party.
No split, no rebel, just in-flighting!
In the latest reported development of the same, for Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister and ex-Rajasthan Congress President Sachin Pilot in an interview with PTI has said he ‘buried the hatchet’ with Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot.
Notably, Rajasthan is set to go into polls later this year or early next year, nonetheless adding to the array of litmus tests Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress goes through before the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections.
The statements comes days after the crucial Rajasthan polls strategy meeting of the Congress.
On Partnership with CM Gehlot
Congress leader Sachin Pilot said to PTI he has buried the hatchet with Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on the advice of party president Mallikarjun Kharge, saying collective leadership was the “only way” forward going into the assembly polls.
Pilot said Kharge advised him to “forgive and forget” and move forward. “It was as much an advice as a directive.”
“Ashok Gehlot ji is older than me, he has more experience. He has heavy responsibilities on his shoulders. When I was the Rajasthan Congress president, I tried to take everyone along. I think that today he is the Chief Minister (Gehlot), so he is trying to take everyone along.
On allegations, name calling, inaction by Gehlot camp
Asked about Gehlot calling him names in the past and his criticism of the Gehlot government over inaction on issues such as corruption in the previous Vasundhara Raje government, Pilot said that in a meeting with him, Congress chief Kharge said that time that has gone by will not come back and one has to look at the future.
“He (Kharge) said forgive and forget and look forward and that is applicable to everybody. I believe in that, we now have to move forward and meet new challenges. This country needs the Congress to do well,” Pilot said.
“So who said what, at which time, there is no point talking about it as it does not mean anything.” Pilot said.
On future of Congress in Rajasthan
“Next challenge for us is to win elections, neither individuals nor statements matter, those are bygones,” he said.
Pilot stressed that right now the challenge is to buck the anti-incumbency trend that has existed for about 25 years. “It is a cause of concern as to why we form the government and then we lose rather badly in the next polls,” he said.
On Collective Leadership in Rajasthan
Pressed further on whether collective leadership was the way to go in Rajasthan, Pilot said, “It is the only way to go.”
Asked about his concern over anti-incumbency, Pilot said there is anti-incumbency in Rajasthan as there is in other places with every government having a certain amount of unaccomplished work.
On Opportunity for Younger Leadership
Pilot also batted for winnability being the sole criterion for choosing candidates for the polls and not which faction he or she belongs to.
He also called for younger leaders being encouraged and given a chance to prove their mettle at the hustings.
Gehlot-Pilot Tussle
Gehlot and Pilot have been engaged in a power tussle since the Congress formed government in the state in 2018. In 2020, Pilot led a revolt against the Gehlot government after which he was removed from the posts of the party’s state unit president and deputy chief minister.
Last year, an attempt by the high command to effect a leadership change in Rajasthan had failed after Gehlot loyalists dug their heels in and did not allow a legislature party meeting to take place.
Pilot had last month defied a warning from the party and went ahead with a day-long fast targeting Gehlot over his “inaction” on alleged corruption during the previous Raje government.
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Updated: 08 Jul 2023, 07:18 PM IST