Pilot vs Gehlot: Congress leadership to intensify efforts to broker peace

JAIPUR: In the aftermath of the Karnataka assembly election results, the Congress party’s top brass is now turning its attention to Rajasthan. Party sources indicate that the leadership aims to unite Sachin Pilot and Ashok Gehlot, two key figures within the party, ahead of the upcoming elections.

To achieve this, it is imperative to first mitigate the ongoing rift between the two leaders. Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge has called for reconciliation between Pilot and Gehlot. Initiatives to implement a reconciliation strategy are expected to commence shortly, which explains the lack of punitive measures against Pilot.

Sachin Pilot is currently taking out a rally against paper leak cases and corruption in the state. 

Pilot’s rally, which was flagged off from Ajmer on May 11, is inching towards city borders. The first leg of the rally, which began at Mahla in Jaipur district at 9 am today, concluded around 11 am at Dahmikala. After a brief recess at Dahmikala, the second leg of the rally kicked off at 4 pm. The rally is set to halt for the night at Mahapura.

In a press meet in Delhi, the Rajasthan Congress in-charge questioned the timing of Pilot’s rally. However, Randhawa demonstrated a softer stance by referencing his longstanding relationship with the Pilot family. He mentioned that he and Sachin’s father were close friends and that he considers Sachin a younger brother. He also expressed his intent to maintain unity within the party.

When asked about the party’s choice for the forthcoming elections, Randhawa mentioned that Congress would be contesting in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh as a unified front, with a singular face leading the campaign. He praised Gehlot for his commitment to the party, pointing out his extensive experience in AICC.

However, Randhawa labelled Pilot’s rally as a personal journey and criticised its timing. He opined that Pilot should have waited until the conclusion of the Karnataka elections.

Pilot, on the other hand, defended his rally, asserting that the purpose of the Jan Sangharsh Yatra is not to challenge anyone. Instead, he claimed it is aimed at securing the future of the youth and campaigning against corruption. He stressed that the trust of the public could only be maintained by delivering on the promises made by the party.