In a recent turn of events, former Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot has responded to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's indirect remarks about the ongoing political dynamics in the state. The prime minister, while campaigning for the upcoming Rajasthan assembly election, took a subtle dig at the power struggle between Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and Congress leader Sachin Pilot.
Modi suggested that despite the frequent handshake moments between Gehlot and Pilot over the last five years, there has been no real reconciliation. He likened the internal strife within the Congress party to a cricket match where, instead of scoring runs for the team, leaders spent their time trying to run each other out.
Sachin Pilot, when asked about the ongoing feud, downplayed the situation, emphasizing that it belongs to the past. He revealed that discussions were held with Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, and the party high command advised him to "forgive, forget, and move on."
“My focus now is to work together... there is no personal animosity. We haven't won consecutive elections in Rajasthan for 30 years. Why? We need to introspect on this," Pilot stated, indicating a shift towards a more cooperative and forward-looking approach.
Earlier this month, in an interview with PTI, Pilot had mentioned that he was following the advice of forgiveness and moving on, as suggested by Kharge and Rahul Gandhi. Responding to past barbs from Chief Minister Gehlot, Pilot urged to maintain dignity in political discussions and emphasized the need to focus on the larger issues facing the state and the nation.
Reflecting on the turbulent events of 2020, when Pilot led a rebellion against the Gehlot-led government, he underscored the importance of the issues he raised for the party and the people. The political tussle reached its peak when Pilot, along with 18 loyal MLAs, camped in Haryana and Delhi, causing a significant crisis for the Gehlot government. Pilot was subsequently removed from both of his positions by the party leadership.
The bitter exchanges continued, with Gehlot accusing the Pilot group of conspiring with the BJP to destabilize the government. In response, Pilot's faction presented its own set of accusations. Despite these tumultuous events, Pilot now advocates for unity within the party, urging everyone to let bygones be bygones and emphasizing the collective responsibility towards the country and the party.
As Rajasthan braces for the upcoming assembly election, the statements from Sachin Pilot indicate a potential shift towards a more harmonious and cooperative political landscape. Only time will tell how these sentiments translate into actions and whether the Congress party can present a united front in the face of electoral challenges.
Varad Kumar Tripathi
