JAIPUR: As political crisis deepens in Rajasthan, MLAs loyal to former deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot have questioned the delay by the AICC committee – set up last year to resolve issues related to differences between chief minister Ashok Gehlot and Pilot – in reaching an amicable solution.
With voices of dissent getting stronger, especially after Jitin Prasada deserting the Congress to join BJP and former Union minister Bhanwar Jitendra Singh speaking in favour of Pilot, sources in Rajasthan Congress say that Gehlot would now find it difficult to postpone a cabinet rejig and state-level political appointments for long.
Congress legislators Vishvendra Singh, Ved Prakash Solanki, Rakesh Pareek, Mukesh Bhakar, Suresh Modi and Ramniwas Gawriya met Pilot at his residence here on Thursday.
All of them were among the 19 MLAs who rebelled against Gehlot’s leadership in July last year.
BJP MLA Gurdeep Singh also met Pilot, though the former claimed it was a personal meeting with no political motive.
Pilot loyalists said their leader should be heard the way Navjot Singh Sidhu was heard in Punjab.
Solanki, who represents Chaksu seat in Jaipur district, said, “Party workers are disappointed after learning that the Congress high command is keen on a quick decision to resolve the issues plaguing the party in Punjab.
It is learnt that the AICC committee set up for Punjab submitted its report in 10 days.
In Rajasthan, the committee has not even heard our views in 10 months.” On the delay in cabinet expansion, Solanki said, “If the chief minister feels that those who support Pilot should not be included and only his people should be inducted, so be it.
He should at least appoint someone, so that people’s works get done and development takes place.” “Pilot is not demanding any post for himself.
He is talking about the honour and respect of Congress workers who fought for the party for 5 years when it was in opposition,” said Bhakar.
Legislator from Parbatsar in Nagaur, Ramniwas Gawriya, said, “The kind of things happening in the party — first Jyotiraditya Scindia and now Jitin Prasada moving to BJP — should not have happened.
Congress high command should have intervened to hold them back.” On being asked if Pilot too might switch over, Gawriya said, “Pilot struggled for six years and pulled the party up from 21 seats to holding power in the state.
He is fighting for the party workers who helped this happen.
We will continue our fight while remaining within the party.” Vishvendra Singh, who was sacked as tourism minister for the rebellion last July, is believed to have got closer to Gehlot recently.
His son Anirudh targeted him on Twitter for switching sides.
“Vishvasghat (treachery)… a new word learned today (sic),” Anirudh wrote.
In another tweet, he indicated his father’s changing political loyalties.
“From Rajesh Pilot ji sahab to Bhairon Singh ji, to Vasundhara ji, to Gehlot sahib, to Pilot sahib to Gehlot sahib! #joke,” Anirudh tweeted, but later deleted.