Rajasthan Cong. at the doorstep of Sonia Gandhi due to internal issues

As the internal tussle continues within the Congress party, in state after state, the party is seeing the infighting within the leadership. From Haryana, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, and now Rajasthan, the Sonia-Gandhi led party has become the topic of discussion because of the ongoing rebellion within the party again.

In September, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot had met with interim President Sonia Gandhi in National Capital and had demanded two more Deputy CMs for the state. Gehlot also asked for a reshuffle of the state cabinet and the PCC set up by citing the need for “political and social balancing acts” ahead of the upcoming municipal and panchayat polls in the state.

Currently, Gehlot’s in-house competitor, Sachin Pilot holds the posts of PCC president and deputy chief minister. Alongside Pilot completing five years as PCC chief and ahead of the civic body elections, some state Congress leaders have sought a “fulltime PCC chief.” Meanwhile, Pilot appears confident of carrying on with both posts.

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The issue of “one man, one post” is being made a talking point in Rajasthan Congress, given that the two top posts are being held by leaders belonging to other backward castes (OBC). While Gehlot is from the Mali community, Pilot is a Gujjar. Sources have said that there have been demands from some Congress quarters to give “due political representation” to other important castes such as Brahmins, Jats, Dalits, and Meenas as well. 

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The political tussle between Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot has been no secret in the desert state. The two leaders have been at loggerheads since the formation of the new government. After the Assembly results were out, both the camps of Pilot and Gehlot had tried hard to ensure that their leader became the next Chief Minister.

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Rajasthan's Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot was also seen criticizing the law and order situation in the state and also raised the question on his own government by saying, It is true that we should pay more attention to law and order. Sources have said that Sonia Gandhi, interim president of Congress party who is trying to control the damages in places, has decided not to take any call before the Haryana and Maharashtra assembly election as internal tussle within the poll-bound states is also out in open.

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