Rift threatens to upset Congress applecart in Rajasthan 

Among the three states going to polls in November-December, the one that Congress party is most hopeful of winning is Rajasthan.
State Congress chief Sachin Pilot and former chief minister Ashok Gehlot reportedly do not see eye to eye. (Photo| EPS)
State Congress chief Sachin Pilot and former chief minister Ashok Gehlot reportedly do not see eye to eye. (Photo| EPS)

JAIPUR: Among the three states going to polls in November-December, the one that Congress party is most hopeful of winning is Rajasthan, particularly in the wake of a string of electoral victories in the desert state. However, the rift within the state Congress unit, especially the tension between PCC chief Sachin Pilot and former chief minister Ashok Gehlot, threatens to turn the tables. As elections approach, the wrangling between Pilot and Gehlot loyalists has intensified over who should be the chief ministerial choice if the Congress wins. As a result, party hasn’t been able to finalise a strategy for ousting the ruling BJP.

After Raje’s appeal and the Modi wave uprooted the Congress and brought it to a historic low of just 21 seats in the 200-member Rajasthan Assembly in 2013, the Congress handed over the baton to Pilot, MP from Ajmer. However, Gehlot, being a seasoned politician, continued to maintain a strong grip on the party.  Due to the party’s internal tussle, the Congress failed to galvanise the public against the state government’s failures.

Farmers, who were upset with the government, enforced 11-day lockdown in Sikar and thereafter a four-month-long farmer agitation was held in Shekhawati. But the Congress was nowhere to be seen. Even when 11 Dalits were killed in Daangawas, the party maintained a silence. In Alwar, the fear of antagonising Hindu voters made the party keep quiet over Pehlu Khan’s lynching by alleged gau rakshaks. Similarly, the party hardly made any noises against the ordinance that was seen to be a gag order against the media.

The Pilot camp has claimed credit for success in Lok Sabha and Assembly by-polls and panchayat elections earlier this year. On the hand, the Gehlot loyalists claim that his political stock in the party has further risen after he, as in-charge of Gujarat during December Assembly elections there, played a key role in the party’s creditable performance. It’s a tribute to Gehlot’s political acumen that party chief Rahul Gandhi has bestowed the important post of General Secretary (Organisation) on him, they assert.

Sources within the party said that to counter Gehlot’s rising graph and enthuse party workers in the state, Pilot has launched ‘Mera Booth, Mera Gaurav’ campaign on 193 seats in the stat. But fighting over tickets overshadowed the programme in Tonk, Sawai Madhopur and Jaipur. Pilot, though, claims the programme is a grand success. “We have got very good response for ‘Mera Booth, Mera Gaurav’ programme. While BJP was searching for its new president, I covered 195 constituencies.” 

On the fight over tickets, he said, “If there are more aspirants for a ticket, I take it as a good sign that people are excited about the party. But where indiscipline has surfaced, we have taken action.”
When asked whether the responsibility would keep it away from the state, Gehlot’s made it loud and clear that he “will not go anywhere but will work for the people till my last breath”.

Power struggle
As Assembly elections in the state approach, the wrangling between Sachin Pilot and Ashok Gehlot camps has intensified over ticket distribution to loyalists as well as over who should be the chief ministerial choice if the Congress wins. As a result, party hasn’t been able to finalise a strategy for ousting the ruling BJP in the state.

Related Stories

No stories found.
The New Indian Express
www.newindianexpress.com