Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and his former deputy, Sachin Pilot, are engaged in a public feud, putting the Congress party in a difficult position. The Congress leadership needs to urgently find a way to resolve the crisis and balance the interests of both leaders to prevent further damage to the party’s electoral prospects.
Image Source: The Economic Times
The Congress Party in India is facing yet another crisis, with Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and his former deputy, Sachin Pilot, trading sharp barbs in the public domain. The rift between the two senior leaders of the Congress party has been simmering since July 2020 when Pilot staged a revolt against Gehlot’s leadership. Although the Congress high command managed to pacify Pilot then, the underlying tensions between the two leaders have refused to die down.
Feud between Rajasthan’s Gehlot and Pilot puts Congress party in a difficult position
The latest round of mudslinging began after Ashok Gehlot made a stunning remark over the weekend, claiming that Vasundhara Raje, the former Chief Minister of Rajasthan from the BJP, helped save his government when Sachin Pilot rebelled in 2020. Gehlot’s statement was a clear attempt to downplay Pilot’s significance and highlight his own political acumen. However, it did not sit well with Sachin Pilot, who responded with a sharp counter-attack, accusing Gehlot of being more loyal to Raje than the Congress Party.
In his response, Sachin Pilot said that it appeared that Ashok Gehlot’s leader was not Sonia Gandhi, the Congress President, but Vasundhara Raje. Pilot’s statement was a direct hit at Gehlot’s perceived proximity to Raje and his alleged unwillingness to accommodate young and dynamic leaders like Pilot in the party hierarchy. Pilot also announced a “Jan Sangharsh Yatra” from Ajmer to Jaipur, to highlight corruption in the Gehlot government.
Image Source: India TV News
The public spat between the two leaders has put the Congress party in a difficult position. While the party high command has been trying to mediate between Gehlot and Pilot, the situation seems to be getting out of hand. The Congress party is already grappling with internal dissent and a declining vote share in several states. The upcoming Karnataka election is crucial for the Congress, and any setback there could further erode the party’s morale.
The Congress leadership needs to take urgent steps to address the issues in Rajasthan before they spiral out of control. The feud between Gehlot and Pilot is not just about personal egos; it is also about the future of the Congress Party in Rajasthan. Sachin Pilot is a young and dynamic leader who enjoys considerable support among the youth and the Jat community in the state. If the Congress fails to address his concerns, there is a real risk of him breaking away and forming his own party, which could damage the Congress’s electoral prospects.
Balancing the interests of Gehlot and Pilot is crucial for Congress party’s future in Rajasthan
On the other hand, Ashok Gehlot is a veteran politician who has been a loyal member of the Congress for decades. His supporters believe that he has the experience and political acumen to lead the party in Rajasthan. However, his alleged proximity to Vasundhara Raje and his perceived inability to accommodate young leaders like Pilot has made him unpopular with a section of the party cadre.
Image source: OpIndia
The Congress party needs to find a way to balance the interests of both Gehlot and Pilot. While Gehlot’s leadership cannot be ignored, the Congress cannot afford to alienate young and dynamic leaders like Pilot. The party needs to create a mechanism where both leaders can work together in harmony and contribute to the party’s growth in Rajasthan. This will require a great deal of patience, tact, and diplomacy, but it is a task that cannot be postponed any further.
The Congress high command needs to intervene urgently to resolve the issues and prevent further damage to the party’s electoral prospects. The party needs to create a conducive environment where both Gehlot and Pilot can work together in harmony and contribute to the party’s growth. The Congress party’s future in Rajasthan depends on the resolution of this crisis.
