In a dramatic turn of events, senior Congress leader Sachin Pilot is reportedly preparing to launch a new political party ahead of the assembly polls in Rajasthan. Pilot’s insistence on probes into former Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje’s tenure has triggered a buzz about his future plans, leading to fresh wrangling among the factions within the Congress party in Rajasthan.
According to sources, Pilot has engaged the services of renowned political strategist Prashant Kishor’s IPAC (Indian Political Action Committee), and an official announcement regarding the new political outfit is expected later this month. This development has sent ripples through the political landscape of Rajasthan, with speculations running high about the potential impact of Pilot’s party on the forthcoming elections.
An anonymous source close to the matter stated, “Sachin Pilot’s intentions are clear,” indicating a decisive move towards establishing his own political entity. The news comes as a blow to the ruling Congress party in Rajasthan, which is likely to face significant challenges if Pilot indeed launches his own party.
In response to the growing tensions, the Congress party, on Thursday, affirmed its unity and commitment to fighting the Rajasthan Assembly polls as a united front. The party leadership emphasized that the Congress remains supreme and expressed confidence in securing a convincing mandate in the upcoming elections.
However, Pilot’s refusal to back down from his demands for action against corruption within the Ashok Gehlot government has heightened internal strife within the Congress’ Rajasthan unit. During an address in his Assembly constituency of Tonk, Pilot underscored the need for concrete actions on the issues he raised, particularly regarding corruption during the previous BJP rule. He expressed his belief that justice must prevail, citing the cancellation of government job exams due to paper leaks.
Congress General Secretary of Communications, Jairam Ramesh, responded to Pilot’s remarks and the simmering tensions within the Rajasthan unit by reaffirming the commitment to unity. Ramesh emphasized that all key stakeholders, including Congress President, Chief Minister Gehlot, Sachin Pilot, Rahul Gandhi, and party officials, engaged in extensive discussions to address the issues at hand. He stressed that the party’s supremacy remains unquestionable and highlighted their determination to contest the elections together, with the belief that they will return to power in Rajasthan.
The recent events in Rajasthan have drawn parallels with similar situations in other states, such as Karnataka, and the successful election campaign run by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Ramesh expressed optimism that the people of Rajasthan would respond to the Congress party’s unified approach, just as the people of Karnataka did.
In an attempt to diffuse tensions, Congress Chief Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi held separate discussions with Chief Minister Gehlot and Sachin Pilot. Following the meetings, photographs were taken at Kharge’s residence, indicating some progress in resolving the differences.
The party subsequently announced that Gehlot and Pilot have agreed to contest the upcoming assembly elections as a united front, leaving all outstanding issues to be resolved by the party high command. Congress General Secretary K.C. Venugopal confirmed this development, stating, “Both leaders, Ashok ji and Sachin ji, have agreed to the proposed terms.”
As the political landscape in Rajasthan evolves with Sachin Pilot’s reported plans to launch a new political party, the stage is set for an intense electoral battle. The coming weeks will undoubtedly witness further developments as parties gear up for the assembly polls, and the people of Rajasthan eagerly await the political choices that lie ahead.
