Rajasthan: Congress Has A Crisis At Hand
By A Special Correspondent
First publised on 2023-04-12 07:59:40
About the Author
The
Congress has lost face in the Sachin Pilot fast affair in Rajasthan. Late on
April 10, it issued a stern warning to Pilot that holding the fast would be
viewed as 'anti-party activity' but he went ahead with the event with despite the
warning. Pilot and his supporters sat on a fast from 10am to 4 pm on Tuesday at
Jaipur's Shaheed Smarak. The Congress party had put out that party spokesman Jairam
Ramesh would issue a statement on the Rajasthan issue on Tuesday but that did
not happen. Obviously, the party backed out as it knew it would muddle the
waters further. Pilot's defiance, although less offensive as he did not issue
any statements against Gehlot from the platform, has put the party in a
difficult position as it would now be more difficult to bring peace between him
and Gehlot.
Political
circles expect Pilot to meet Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge. Obviously
he will be asked to explain why he defied the party warning to hold the fast. Party
in-charge for Rajasthan, Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa is to visit Jaipur on
Wednesday and is likely to hold talks with all sides. But it is clear that the
public spectacle has caused loss of image for the party and Gehlot will demand
action against Pilot despite Pliot not going on the offensive during the fast.
Randhawa said that Pilot raising this issue was surprising as he had not raised
it with him in the five months he has been state in-charge. Calling Pilot an indisputable asset for the
party, Randhawa said he is in touch with Pilot and has appealed to him to
remain calm.
With Pilot
having toned down his offensive somewhat, the party has an opening. But it
remains to be seen if Gehlot can be brought around after Pilot's open defiance
in holding the fast. It is clear that Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi will have
to intervene in bringing peace between the warring regional satraps. It is also
clear that this time Pilot is not going to be mollified easily. He will be
satisfied only if something concrete is offered to him. Otherwise, political circles
in Jaipur say that he might float his own political outfit ahead of the polls likely
to be held in November this year.
