In a bid to showcase unity within the party’s Rajasthan unit, the Congress released a photograph capturing Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and former Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot sharing a light-hearted moment at Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge’s residence in New Delhi. The image was released following marathon meetings between the two rival leaders and Kharge.
The meeting between Kharge and Gehlot lasted for over four hours, while the interaction with Pilot, who had expressed his aspirations for the chief ministerial post, lasted close to two-and-a-half hours. Rahul Gandhi, senior Congress leader, K.C. Venugopal, party general secretary (organisation), and Sukhjinder Randhawa, the party in-charge for Rajasthan, were also present during both meetings.
Although the party remained tight-lipped about the specific arrangements reached between the leaders, Venugopal, alongside Gehlot and Pilot, addressed the media after the meeting. He stated that after a detailed four-hour discussion, it was decided that the Congress would contest the upcoming Rajasthan elections unitedly. Both Gehlot and Pilot expressed agreement on the need for the party to move forward together, with a strong belief in their ability to secure victory in the state.
Sources within the party indicated that the leaders were initially spoken to individually and then brought together in the same room. However, specific demands from either leader were not discussed during this meeting.
ThePrint reported a “ceasefire” within the Pilot camp regarding his earlier ultimatum regarding allegations against the previous BJP government, while the Gehlot camp pointed to Pilot’s past rebellion when considering his organizational role.
At the time of publishing, neither Pilot nor Gehlot had responded to requests for comments. The article will be updated if and when a response is received. The Congress’s display of unity aims to instill confidence in party members and project a united front ahead of the crucial Rajasthan elections
