JAIPUR: The Congress victory in Karnataka has had a significant impact on the ongoing internal politics in the ruling Congress in Rajasthan. State in-charge Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa’s “soft stance” towards former Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot has sent out buzz about a new rapprochement in the party.
Pilot, who is currently on his five-day padayatra, entered Jaipur district on Sunday, marking the fourth day of his march. Hundreds of his supporters are with him in the march under the blazing heat of May in Rajasthan.
Pilot’s foot march is directed against the government of his own party, which has allegedly failed to take any concrete action against those involved in corruption during the previous Vasundhara Raje government and the paper leak cases that have repeatedly haunted the Gehlot government over the past few years. However, in his padayatra, Pilot’s stance has become increasingly aggressive.
Contrary to his previous strong statements about Pilot, state in charge Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa seems to be softening his tone. While he acknowledged during a media conversation on Sunday that there are differences among party leaders in Rajasthan, nevertheless, he now aims to unite everyone and bring the party together. He claimed that he is working towards strengthening the state unit. He said the Congress will contest the elections in Rajasthan unitedly, just as it did in Karnataka.
On Friday, Randhawa had made it clear that the Pilot’s march is a personal programme and not an official party event. He had also asserted that he is closely monitoring Pilot’s visit, and a report will be submitted to party chief Mallikarjun Kharge upon his return from Karnataka.
After Randhawa’s statement, there was speculation that the party leadership might make tough decisions regarding Pilot. During his media interaction, Randhawa also said that Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot delivered a clear speech in front of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Rajasthan, which was a significant event. “The BJP does not have any major issue in Rajasthan,” Randhawa said, asserting that people were benefiting in a big way,” he said
Randhawa stated that schemes such as free treatment and OPS had reached the people of Karnataka, resulting in favorable outcomes in the elections. There is now a big buzz after Randhawa’s fresh statement that, as Rahul Gandhi had stated a few months ago, both Pilot and Gehlot are being seen as assets to the party. And the top leadership will make a special effort to resolve the Gehlot-Pilot tussle and reconcile the two warring leaders in the Rajasthan Congress at the earliest.
