The Congress leadership is set to rehabilitate former Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot and resolve the festering Rajasthan crisis. A day after party chief Sonia Gandhi had a detailed discussion with Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, his former deputy Pilot called on Sonia on Friday and said every one working together to strengthen the party.
Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel, who is also dealing with a rebellion by some senior leaders in the State, too called on the party chief on Friday.
“We are all Congress. There is no ‘you and me’. There are a few vacancies in the State Cabinet. All factors will be considered by the high command in filling these vacancies. I hope the party will take the right decision,” Pilot told reporters after the 45-minute meeting.
“Elections are due in two years. Usually alternative Governments come to power in Rajasthan. We are working to strengthen the party to retain power in 2023,” he added.
With Pilot and CM Gehlot’s visit to Delhi and meeting the high command, speculation has once again intensified over the long-proposed Cabinet expansion and political appointments in Rajasthan. It is being reported that a decision on Cabinet expansion and reshuffle in Rajasthan will also be taken soon. On December 17, the Gehlot Government will complete its three-year term.
Pilot has been waiting for over a year for Gehlot to accommodate his supporters in the Rajasthan Congress Government, but the Chief Minister has, so far, held out.
AICC sources said four or five MLAs from Pilot’s camp are likely to be included in the Gehlot Cabinet.
“The party high command will decide on the Cabinet reshuffle in Rajasthan. We want good governance to continue in the State,” Gehlot had told reporters after his meeting with Sonia on Thursday.
Sources said at least three senior members of Gehlot Cabinet are likely to be removed from their post as they have already been given responsibilities in the party. Rajasthan Congress chief Govind Dotasra, Congress in-charge of Punjab Harish Chaudhry and in-charge of Gujarat Raghu Sharma are likely to be out in the reshuffle.
Meanwhile, Baghel said the party chief instructed him to be an observer for the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections. “It’s a big responsibility. I will try my best to live up to the expectations of the top leadership. Resolve to change, Congress is the only option,” Baghel said setting aside any speculation that the meeting had anything to do with the current state of party affairs in Chhattisgarh.
Congress has made Baghel a senior observer of the party in UP elections with the responsibility of coordinating with the electoral machinery of the organization and the party. Baghel has gone to Uttar Pradesh four times in the last month.