Some sort of a compromise formula has been worked out in Rajasthan between the CM and CM-in-waiting

In the recent meeting in Rajasthan to assess its chances and chalk out a strategy for the forthcoming elections, some sort of a compromise formula seems to have emerged as both CM Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot, the CM-in-waiting, have agreed to bury the hatchet for now. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, former party chief Rahul Gandhi, AICC in-charge for Rajasthan Sukhjinder Randhawa, Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee president Govind Dotasra, Pilot and several MLAs and ministers from the state were present at the meeting. Gehlot attended the meeting via video conferencing. Congress asserted it can win the Rajasthan assembly elections provided there is unity and warned of strict action against those not maintaining discipline and speaking outside the party forum. The party, however, indicated it is unlikely that it will declare a chief ministerial face for the polls due later this year. Congress claimed that it has resolved all issues while seeking to end talks of differences between Gehlot and his former deputy Sachin Pilot, who have often gone against each other in public. Indeed, they need to work together to buck the trend of the ruling party being voted out of power in the state. All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary KC Venugopal has said that all leaders agreed that the Congress could win the assembly polls slated later this year provided there is complete unity. But this is easier said than done. Of the three major states going to polls -- Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan -- Rajasthan is going to be the biggest challenge for Congress to make a comeback. Rajasthan by convention votes out the party in power in every election. Given the infighting in Congress, it makes the BJP’s job even easier though it would have to work hard to dislodge Gehlot, an astute politician. He knows that any spat with Sachin would harm the party’s chances, hence the truce as the no-love-lost relationship with Sachin is not going to change otherwise. Secondly, he has launched a plethora of schemes for almost all sections of society to counter anti-incumbency. On the other hand, the BJP high command is still struggling to deal with Vijyaraje Sindia who could make or mar the party’s prospects in the state. But she is at loggerheads with PM Modi.

Congress campaign starts now but the BJP is yet to set its house in order. While the BJP struggles to find the face for the elections, Congress has tactically left the people guessing about Congress CM, should the party return to power. Finalisation of the candidates for the state polls starts in the first week of September and, officially, winnability will be the only criterion for their selection. However, the frontrunner would be decided at that juncture as the leader who gets the maximum number of candidates' tickets and also makes it to the top post.