NEW DELHI: With ex-Rajasthan deputy CM Sachin Pilot’s insistence on probes into former CM Vasundhara Raje’s tenure triggering a buzz about his future plans, Congress is gripped by a fresh wrangling among its Rajasthan factions with new dimensions of upmanship.
Sources said while Pilot is awaiting the Congress leadership’s decision on his demands, a tussle to move him out of Rajasthan Congress is another reason that has stoked the factional warfare, shredding the peace talks held earlier this week.
There is reported to be a push from the governing faction that Pilot be adjusted in the AICC reshuffle as part of either a committee or as an office bearer, which would send out a signal that he is out of Rajasthan power politics. But Pilot supporters have indicated that their leader is firm on staying in the state, saying it would also help Congress.
The fresh tussle is seen as a war of wits between the leadership, which is not ready to back down, and Pilot who seems to have gone too far. Congress appears reconciled to a “drastic action” by Pilot, and the stress of AICC spokesman Jairam Ramesh earlier that “the party is supreme”, only conveys that the party brass is not ready to budge.
A compromise does not appear to be on the horizon. It’s learnt that there hasn’t been any dialogue between Pilot and Congress leadership after the meeting on Monday when it was announced that CM Ashok Gehlot and Pilot had agreed to work unitedly for coming assembly polls. The plan came unstuck, apparently, because there was no discussion about future power-sharing in the party or its roadmap, and talks focused on the need for unity in the fight against BJP. Pilot has been seeking better accommodation in the state unit, with an eye on future, but is facing resistance from Gehlot.
Amid fresh rumblings, June 11 is seen as the sort of D-day when Pilot has scheduled a big rally to mark the death anniversary of his late father Rajesh Pilot. It is said to be the planned platform to announce his future plans like going independent or launching a fresh agitation. Pilot supporters are pinning their hopes on a last-minute intervention from Rahul.
Sources said while Pilot is awaiting the Congress leadership’s decision on his demands, a tussle to move him out of Rajasthan Congress is another reason that has stoked the factional warfare, shredding the peace talks held earlier this week.
There is reported to be a push from the governing faction that Pilot be adjusted in the AICC reshuffle as part of either a committee or as an office bearer, which would send out a signal that he is out of Rajasthan power politics. But Pilot supporters have indicated that their leader is firm on staying in the state, saying it would also help Congress.
The fresh tussle is seen as a war of wits between the leadership, which is not ready to back down, and Pilot who seems to have gone too far. Congress appears reconciled to a “drastic action” by Pilot, and the stress of AICC spokesman Jairam Ramesh earlier that “the party is supreme”, only conveys that the party brass is not ready to budge.
A compromise does not appear to be on the horizon. It’s learnt that there hasn’t been any dialogue between Pilot and Congress leadership after the meeting on Monday when it was announced that CM Ashok Gehlot and Pilot had agreed to work unitedly for coming assembly polls. The plan came unstuck, apparently, because there was no discussion about future power-sharing in the party or its roadmap, and talks focused on the need for unity in the fight against BJP. Pilot has been seeking better accommodation in the state unit, with an eye on future, but is facing resistance from Gehlot.
Amid fresh rumblings, June 11 is seen as the sort of D-day when Pilot has scheduled a big rally to mark the death anniversary of his late father Rajesh Pilot. It is said to be the planned platform to announce his future plans like going independent or launching a fresh agitation. Pilot supporters are pinning their hopes on a last-minute intervention from Rahul.