In a day full of political drama, two important protagonists in Rajasthan politics, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot, on Thursday called on Congress interim chief Sonia Gandhi to break the deadlock that has been going on for the last few days. However, at the end of the day the most crucial question remained unanswered: Will Gehlot be able to keep chief minister’s post in Rajasthan?
Amid the political tension in Rajasthan that antagonized the high command, Gehlot reached 10 Janpath to meet the party supremo. After the meeting, Gehlot made two important points: One, he will not fight for the post of Congress chief, and two, Sonia Gandhi will take a call on the chief ministership in Rajasthan in a few days.
“I met Rahul Gandhi in Kochi and requested him to fight the polls (for Congress President). When he didn’t accept, I said I’ll contest but now with that incident (political crisis in Rajasthan), I have decided not to contest the elections,” CM Gehlot said.
“I won’t contest these elections in this atmosphere, with moral responsibility,” he added.
Gehlot also apologised for the ruckus in Rajasthan triggered by his loyalists over a possible leadership change in the state after Gehlot was set to file his nomination papers for the Congress chief polls.
Gehlot said that whatever happened in the state in the past two days had shocked everyone. “I had a conversation with Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi. Whatever happened two days ago shocked us. It gave a message that all of it happened as I wanted to be CM. I apologised to her,” said Gehlot addressing the media persons after meeting Sonia.
On being asked if he will remain Rajasthan CM, Gehlot said, “I won’t decide that, Congress chief Sonia Gandhi will decide that.”
“One-line resolution is our tradition. Unfortunately, a situation arose that resolution wasn’t passed. It was my moral responsibility (to pass the resolution), but despite being a CM I couldn’t get it passed,” he added.
Talking to reporters, Gehlot said the party works under the Congress president and decisions will be taken in the time to come.
Hours after Sonia-Gehlot meeting, Sachin Pilot met the party’s interim chief and later said: “It is often debated that BJP and Congress government keeps coming every five years in Rajasthan. I don’t see any reason why Congress cannot return for a second consecutive term in Rajasthan in 2023. We will work towards this.”
As regards Rajasthan development, MLAs have not yet changed their stand. In what went down in political history of the state, more than 90 legislators opposed “the one line resolution” from the high command on Sunday. They were under the impression that Sachin Pilot who led rebels against the government two years ago would be appointed CM. They are still in a mood to oppose any such decision. Several legislators are saying that they would prefer a mid-term poll if the decision to give CM post to Sachin was thrust on them. So, the high command will find it difficult to take a call on Rajasthan leadership. General Secretary in-charge of organisation, KC Venugopal has said that the scene will be clear in next two days. All eyes are on what steps Sonia takes for Rajasthan.