January 22, 2025

The Gandhis Find Ashok Gehlot Is Not So Loyal After All

By Sunil Garodia
First publised on 2022-09-26 14:33:24

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Editor-in-Chief of indiacommentary.com. Current Affairs analyst and political commentator.

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The more the Congress tries to become better, the more it proves how internal contradictions and factional fights will not let it do so. Everyone, except the Gandhis, knew that shifting Ashok Gehlot from Rajasthan to the post of Congress president will open a can of worms as far as the state leadership is concerned. Everyone, again except the Gandhis, knew that however elevated the party's top post might seem, Gehlot would never relinquish his hold in the state. It was clear that once Gehlot became Congress president, the baton in Rajasthan would pass to Sachin Pilot, the one person Gehlot does not want to take his place as chief minister of the state.

That is exactly what has happened. Nearly 90 MLAs owing allegiance to Gehlot revolted on Sunday and refused to meet Ajay Maken and Mallikarjun Kharge, the observers the high command sent to look into their grievances. The one or two who met them put forward conditions like the selection of the chief minister should be only from the 102 MLAs who supported Gehlot and the party when Pilot had revolted. Alternatively, they said, the selection should be postponed till the time gehlot became president. The observers rejected both demands - the first because they said that the Congress party never used such conditional resolutions and the second because if Gehlot is president and selects the Rajasthan chief minister, it will give rise to 'conflict of interest'. It was clear that the revolt had the tacit backing of Gehlot for otherwise the MLAs could not have rebuffed the observers so strongly.

Although Gehlot is reported to have apologized to Sonia Gandhi, the Gandhis are reportedly miffed with him. They are of the view that the open show of rebellion has tarnished the party's image and the MLAs should have shown restraint by meeting the observers and stating their views to them. Sonia Gandhi has asked for a written report to be submitted on the issue. Senior leader Kamal Nath has rushed to Delhi and is likely to mediate. Since the observers have accused the MLAs of 'indiscipline', it is clear that the crisis will take some time in blowing off.

This also puts Gehlot's candidature for the presidency in doubt. Initially, Gehlot was cocksure that the party would let him remain Rajasthan chief minister along with being party president. There were independent reports which suggested that the Gandhis would make an exception for him from the 'one man, one post' rule put forward at the Udaipur Chintan Shivir. But when Rahul Gandhi clearly stated that he expected everyone to abide by that rule, Gehlot's confidence was punctured and he knew that Sachin Pilot was the tallest state leader after him and would take the chief minister's chair, he started the political machinations using MLAs loyal to him. But this is likely to prove costly for Gehlot. All eyes will now be on Sonia Gandhi and the decision she takes after Maken and Kharge submit the written report to her later in the evening.