Congress President Rahul Gandhi avoided taking sides in the current power struggle in Rajasthan, which threatens to overshadow his Bharat Jodo Yatra.
To the embarrassment of the grand old party, chief minister Ashok Gehlot and his former deputy Sachin Pilot have been locked in an intense political battle to lead the party in the state and have traded open barbs at each other.
When asked if this power struggle will have an influence on his campaign in Rajasthan, Rahul expressed confidence that it would not. The former Congress president then referred to both Rajasthan politicians as “assets” for the party.
However, the recent turn of events suggests that Congress will have to select one asset over the other sooner rather than later.
Gandhi was speaking at a news conference in Indore when he was questioned about Gehlot’s latest verbal spat with his former deputy. On Thursday, Gehlot told NDTV that Pilot is a “gaddar” (traitor) who cannot be appointed as chief minister. Pilot responded by saying the words were unworthy of a senior leader.
“We do not want to respond to (their) remarks. Both leaders are assets to us and can assure us that the Bharat Jodo Yatra would not be affected “Gandhi stated to reporters.
Pilot, who was instrumental in the party’s triumph in the 2017 elections, is eager to lead the party in the next assembly elections. Gehlot, on the other hand, has said unequivocally that he would not participate.
Gehlot dubbed Pilot a “traiteur” in his latest volley for spearheading a mutiny against his administration in 2020. Gehlot’s onslaught came only days after Pilot questioned Gehlot’s “lavish adoration” for Prime Minister Modi at an event.
By requesting Gehlot to take over as party president, the Congress attempted but failed to make Pilot chief minister. This proposal to mediate peace between the two leaders fell down when Gehlot’s followers declined to attend a parliamentary party gathering to accept the leadership’s formula for a state change of guard.
As a result, three senior MLAs were show-caused. But nothing has transpired since then since Congress has yet to act.
With Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge unwilling to intervene for the time being, Sachin Pilot’s supporters warned that the delay could jeopardise Rahul Gandhi’s grand yatra in the state. Pilot, on the other hand, was quick to deny and distance himself from the threat.
Rahul Gandhi would not want to take sides in this simmering power struggle and jeopardise his Bharat Jodo Yatra, which is about to visit Rajasthan.
“Everyone is aware. Even the President of the United States recognises India as a land of love, devotion, and mutual respect. I’m hoping that the yatra would remind people of India’s true culture and DNA “He said.
When asked how he intends to address the country’s unemployment crisis, the Wayanad MP replied: “Any problem can be handled by listening to the people. There is a concentration of wealth and monopolies of individuals in India. A few individuals control all of the money and have a monopoly on every company, whether it is an airport or telecommunications.”
Rahul Gandhi thinks both Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot are assets.
