Rajasthan government crisis over with Pilot’s homecoming

Jaipur: The political drama that threatened to topple the current government in Rajasthan over the past 32 days has come to an end with the ‘homecoming’ of sacked deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot, a day after the disgruntled Congress leader met Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.

Congress workers burst firecrackers and shouted slogans in Tonk – the home constituency of Pilot – in celebration of his return to the Congress. It, however, seems that chief minister Ashok Gehlot emerged victorious in this tug of war between the two most prominent party leaders.

Gehlot managed to save the government as well as got away with his claim of having the majority in the assembly without a floor test. Many speculated if this will hurt Pilot’s political career in the long run.

Three independent MLAs Omprakash Hudla, Sukhveer Singh Jojavar and Suresh Tank who were believed to be in support of Pilot met Gehlot at his residence. They told media persons after the meeting that they bore no ill will towards Gehlot. Jojawar said that he was extending full support to the chief minister.

Hudla and Tank said that they were not happy because an FIR was registered against them. The FIR has been withdrawn and the CM has assured them of their respective area’s development.

It now appears that the efforts to defuse the tension with Pilot were going on for the past one week even before the sacked deputy CM met Gandhi.

First, the SOG withdrew the cases and then Gehlot tried to issue statements aimed at placating the disgruntled MLAs. Earlier he had said that Pilot was a cheat.