After going to town over action against Sachin Pilot for observing a daylong fast to protest against his own government led by Ashok Gehlot, the Congress has now find itself in a catch-22 situation.
On the other hand sources close to the rebel leader Sachin Pilot refuted speculations that he may go to BJP neither he is `bargaining’ with Aam Admi Party (AAP) which is eyeing to set its foot in Rajasthan which so far has seen the toss of power game only between Congress and BJP with BSP making a significant presence. “But he is mentally prepared if any action is taken then the former Union Minister in Congress led UPA governments will float his own outfit which will not damage Congress but BJP only,” a close aide of Pilot told The Pioneer.
Sources said Pilot has been trying to convey to the central leadership that he did not defy the party since his fast was an internal matter.
Sources mentioned that when Gehlot was let scot free despite his complete disobedience to the directives of the then President Sonia Gandhi to take over the reins of the grand old party then Pilot has done nothing as his protest pertains to corruption in Vasundhara Raje led BJP government.
Pilot has stationed himself in the national Capital after his one day fast on Tuesday and seeking a meeting with top party leadership.
Sources said neither the Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, nor former chief Rahul Gandhi or General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi have met him so far. Pilot’s last rebellion when he alongwith his supporters had lodged in a Gurugram resort two years ago was pacified by Priyanka with whom he is considered to be very close.
While the Congress general secretary in-charge for Rajasthan Sukhjinder Randhawa has held several rounds of meetings including that on Thursday with party chief Mallikarjun Kharge and former party chief Rahul Gandhi for the second time in two days as the party continues to grapple with the situation arising after Pilot’s fast in defiance of the central leadership, sources in the grand old party said the Congress leadership is caught in a peculiar situation as it neither wants Pilot to quit the party nor it wants to be seen condoning his action.