Rajasthan Congress heaved a sigh of relief after the party’s rebel leader Sachin Pilot returned back to party fold. Pilot met party leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra in New Delhi yesterday. What transpired between the leaders during the 2-hour long meeting is not yet known, but the party has stated that the interim president Sonia Gandhi had constituted a 3 member committee to look into the grievances of rebel party MLAs.
At the end of the day, it seemed all is well for the grand old party after the storm in the cup remained in the cup. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot talking to media welcomed the party’s decision and assured all support for the sulking MLAs in Pilot’s camp. However, according to inside sources, Gehlot is not happy with the party’s decision or Sachin Pilot’s return. The hostility between Gehlot and Pilot is said to be so intense that both have not been in talking terms for the last few months which many consider a factor that drove Pilot to revolt against the Gehlot Government.
At the moment, Gehlot’s astuteness and timely intervention by party elders in New Delhi has thwarted any attempt by either Pilot’s camp or opposition Bharatiya Janata Party to topple his government. However, it is not yet known if there was any compromise formula suggested by the Gandhis. A source close to Pilot told us that the young leader may move out of Rajasthan and take up a bigger role in the party from Delhi. Now, with the central leadership giving a patient hearing to his adversary, who he referred to as ‘Nikamma’ (useless), it remains to be seen how Gehlot will strengthen his support base to avoid such circumstances in the future. The challenge before the party leadership will be to balance the volatile relationship between rival leaders and save its outpost from being taken over by the BJP as was the case in Madhya Pradesh. While Gehlot has 102 MLAs supporting him, Pilot’s camp has 18 MLAs.