Come back, let’s talk: Congress reaches out to Sachin Pilot amid Rajasthan crisis

Aditi Tandon
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, July 13

With the bitter factional war casting a shadow on its government in Rajasthan, the Congress on Monday made a last ditch effort to reach out to rebel Deputy CM Sachin Pilot asking him to come and talk about his concerns and differences at the CLP meeting, which will now be held around 1 pm.

Pilot, Rajasthan Congress chief and Deputy CM, last night openly revolted against CM Ashok Gehlot led state government claiming the support of 30 MLAs, including independents and declaring that the state government was in minority.

With the CLP meeting in Jaipur postponed to enable more lawmakers to reach, the Congress today issued a statement appealing to all MLAs including Pilot to attend the meeting and strengthen the state government.

“We appeal to all MLAs and to Deputy CM Sachin Pilot to attend the CLP meeting and discuss their differences in party fora. Personal ambitions are not larger than the interest of the state and the Congress government has been elected to serve the state for its full term,” said Randeep Surjewala, one of the two observers Congress has sent to Jaipur to meet MLAs and gather the party flock amid a rebellion by Pilot.

Even as Surjewala extended and olive branch to Pilot some Congress workers were seen pulling Pilot posters down from the state party office.

Surjewala said the doors of Congress President Sonia Gandhi were open to everyone to discuss anything or concern.

“Family members do squabble at times but then they don’t weaken the house. They sit with elders and resolve the differences. Our affections for Sachin Pilot and other MLAs are intact. We appeal to them to return and engage the party,” Surjewala said.

Ahead of the CLP meet the Congress claimed 97 MLAs had reached Gehlot’s house.

Pilot meanwhile appears to have gone too far to script a return having had a bitter power tussle with Gehlot in the state where he lost the CM race to the old warhorse in 2018.

Now Pilot is also nearing the end of his term as party president in Rajasthan.

Pilot did not take the state police summons to him on the probe into allegations of toppling the Rajasthan government lightly and decided to chart his own course this time.

The state deputy CM’s next moves are still in the realm of speculation with the CLP meet outcomes yet to surface even though the Congress claimed last night that 109 legislators had signed support letters for Gehlot.

Pilot is in Delhi and yesterday met Rajasthan BJP veteran Om Mathur.

BJP leader Jyotiraditya Scindia is said to have accompanied him to meet Mathur.

Pilot is now keeping cards close to the chest with two possibilities likely — he could join the BJP if he musters enough MLA support to topple the Gehlot government or he could form his independent outfit.

For now all eyes are on the outcome of the CLP meet which will commence at Gehlot’s house later around 1 pm.