Focus on ensuring Congress success: Sachin Pilot on Rajasthan CM's barbs | Latest News India - Hindustan Times
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Focus on ensuring Congress success: Sachin Pilot on Rajasthan CM's barbs

Jun 28, 2022 02:01 AM IST

Pilot was the Rajasthan party chief when the Congress returned to power in the state in 2018, and was keen on the CM’s post which went to party veteran Gehlot

Days after Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot targeted his former deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot, by saying it was evident the BJP was with the latter during his 2020 rebellion, Pilot responded and said his focus was on ensuring the Congress returns to power in the state.

New Delhi: Congress leaders Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Sachin Pilot and Deepender Singh Hooda during the Congress' 'Satyagraha' against the Central government's 'Agnipath' scheme, at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, Sunday, June 19, 2022. (PTI Photo/Manvender Vashist)(PTI06_19_2022_000167A) (PTI)
New Delhi: Congress leaders Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Sachin Pilot and Deepender Singh Hooda during the Congress' 'Satyagraha' against the Central government's 'Agnipath' scheme, at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, Sunday, June 19, 2022. (PTI Photo/Manvender Vashist)(PTI06_19_2022_000167A) (PTI)

“Earlier, also the CM had spoken about me saying nakara (useleess) , nikamma (jobless) and much more. Ashok Gehlot is an experienced, elderly and fatherly figure, if he speaks something I don’t take it otherwise,” Pilot said on Monday.

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Speaking to reporters during an event in Tonk, Pilot said that at a function in Delhi, former Congress president Rahul gandhi had praised his (Pilot’s) patience, and that this should not be upsetting anyone. ” Now if he appreciates my patience then no one should unnecessarily be upset with Rahul Gandhi’s statement, and should take it in the right spirit.”

Pilot was the Rajasthan party chief when the Congress returned to power in the state in 2018, and was keen on the CM’s post which went to party veteran Gehlot. In 2020, he and a group of legislators rebelled, but Gehlot managed to keep his flock together, and the Gandhis (Rahul and his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra; Pilot is believed to be close to both) facilitated the return of the rebels to the party, although Pilot had to give up both his deputy CM post and his presidency of the state unit.

Last week, in a meeting in Jaipur’s Chomu area, Union minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said that Pilot had committed a chook (an error) during the political crisis, and that if he hadn’t, work on Eastern Rajasthan Canal project (ERCP) would have begun.

On Saturday , speaking to newspersons in Sikar, Gehlot referred to these comments and said, ““Ab aap jo Sachin Pilot ka naam le rahe ho, ki unhone chook kar di, toh aur proof ho gya, thappa laga diya aapne khud ne ki aap unke saath mile hue the (You are taking Sachin Pilot’s name that he made a mistake, this is further proof, you have admitted yourself that you were hand in glove with him).”

On Sunday, parliamentary affairs minister Shanti Dhariwal added that what Gehlot had said was correct.

Experts say Shekhawat’s comments may have brought to fore the simmering infighting in Rajasthan Congress. People close to Pilot claimed that it was an effort by Gehlot to intimidate the former deputy CM, and added that there could be a change in leadership soon.

BJP leader and deputy leader of opposition in the state, Rajendra Rathore said the CM “has crossed all limits”.

Political analyst Manish Godha said, “It looks like this clash of leadership will become even more bitter in the coming days as the state has entered into election mode. The party high command should give a clear message to party workers (not to do this)”.

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  • ABOUT THE AUTHOR
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    Sachin Saini is Special Correspondent for Rajasthan. He covers politics, tourism, forest, home, panchayati raj and rural development, and development journalism.

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