Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot here on Monday said that his relations with the Gandhi family are “beyond any logic or contention”. He said it is just like Vinoba Bhave’s relations with Maa Geeta. Bhave once said that his relations with Geeta Maa were beyond any logic.
Gehlot was at PCC headquarters here to cast his vote for the presidential election. The CM was looking quite positive and confident as if everything was normal like before. Gehlot was talking to media persons here. He spent a lot of time at the headquarters, interacting with PCC chief Govind Singh Dotasra and other workers.
He asked the workers to be in a battle-ready mode for the 2023 elections in Rajasthan. He appealed to the workers to ensure the party’s victory in the polls to strengthen the position of Rahul Gandhi. Moreover, the Bharat Jodo Yatra, which has given sleepless nights to BJP, will be a grand success when it passes through Rajasthan, Gehlot says.
In a message to disgruntled leaders, Gehlot pointed out that what they wanted did not happen. However he advised them to have patience and to continue to work for the party. Gehlot’s message was for the leaders including Sachin Pilot who have either left the party or tried to quit it. Gehlot’s statement signalled that his relation with the Gandhis is normal like before.
He also termed Congress presidential candidate Mallikarjuna Kharge as an experienced leader, saying that there can be no alternative to experience. Gehlot made his points about various issues like Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra, Gujarat polls, etc. like a responsible Congress leader.
While responding to questions from media on the speculation about what will happen after 19 October, the day of party presidential results, Gehlot gave an example of Vinoba Bhave’s relation with Geeta Maa. He asked the media not to worry about his relations with the Gandhi family. “Even after 19 October, his relations with the Gandhi family will remain like what they have been for the last 50 years,” he added signalling that Rajastan turmoil that happened few weeks ago, is over now.
After his meeting with Rahul at Bellary, everything is apparently normal. After Gehlot’s activeness for the upcoming Gujarat polls, Congress workers are also quite enthusiastic and positive. He is the Congress observer for the Gujarat polls. The high command is expecting high performance from Gehlot. So, there will be no change now in Rajasthan.
VEILED CRITICISM OF OPPONENTS
Replying to media queries, Gehlot took a dig at all his opponents including Sachin Pilot. To a question on disgruntled leaders, he said that those who have got some posts without struggle are “roaming around doing negative and destructive things”. When the “achche din” for Congress will return, these leaders will also get something good. If they show haste in achieving something, they will be faced with setbacks.
Gehlot said those who left the party were opportunists. Some leaders left the party amid the crisis. These leaders got opportunity at a very young age, be it Scindia, Jitin Prasad and RPN Singh. He recalled his career as a young politician and said “I became deputy minister with Indira Gandhi”. But these leaders were made minister of state with good portfolios, he adds. The youngsters should have patience, he added. Working for the party adds to a leader’s stature gradually.
ON BHARAT JODO YATRA
Congress is witnessing two important developments at present. One is Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra and the other is the presidential poll. Both are important in their own ways. Rahul’s Yatra has received a tremendous positive response across the country due to which political opponents are nervous. The feeling of fraternity and brotherhood is returning due to this yatra. The presidential poll is the symbol of internal party democracy.
ATTACK ON BJP
Gehlot says ever since coming to power, the BJP is throwing the constitution and legal system to the wind. There is hardly any respect for law by these people. People are being jailed without any reason, as the BJP leaders hate criticism which is a mandatory thing in democracy. Those in power are fascist. It is easy to instigate the public in the name of caste and religion, but it is difficult to douse the fire.
ON GUJARAT POLLS
Gehlot says that the results of Gujarat polls will be surprising. PM Modi is himself saying that Congress is working silently down to village level, he said. One can understand the meaning. Congress is quite strong in villages. Yes, its position is not that strong in the urban areas as was the case in the past. Congress is working towards strengthening its position in cities as well. The AAP is making a record in lying to people. Why the media is giving the AAP so much attention is beyond understanding. The coverage is not being given to Bharat Jodo Yatra of the Congress, the party which played an important role in the freedom struggle. This is a big question mark on the media’s role and credibility. On Gujarat poll dates not being announced, Gehlot says ECI should explain why it only announced poll dates for Himachal Pradesh and excluded Gujarat, while the counting will be done together. This could not have happened without the intervention of PM Modi and Amit Shah, he alleged. How can the elections be impartial then?
ON MALLIKARJUNA KHARGE
Gehlot said Mallikarjuna Kharge is quite an experienced leader. He will win by a huge margin. His experience will help Congress regain its past glory. Kharge has been in politics for 50 years. He has been an MLA nine times and a Lok Sabha MP twice. He is the leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha. He has solid organisational experience as well. The youth power can work hard but there is no alternative for experience. And Kharge’s vast political experience will benefit the party.
