Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Thursday met Congress president Sonia Gandhi after Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka are said to have asked him to expand his Cabinet in the next few days to end a long-standing feud with rival Sachin Pilot by accommodating his loyalists. The push also comes as the Congress has somewhat sorted out the Punjab muddle.
AICC sources said Priyanka Gandhi had reportedly urged Gehlot to accommodate Sachin Pilot’s supporters in his Ministry.
Sources confirmed Gehlot’s meeting with Sonia Gandhi was on “expanding the Rajasthan Cabinet and appointing chairmen of state corporations”.
“The party high command will decide on the Cabinet reshuffle in Rajasthan. Ajay Maken has all the information on it. We want good governance to continue in the State,” Gehlot told reporters after the meeting.
Sources said the Congress leadership wants the reshuffle to take place immediately, in keeping with a major promise to Pilot when he agreed to drop his rebellion more than a year ago.
Besides Priyanka Gandhi, other Congress leaders like KC Venugopal and Rajasthan in-charge Ajay Maken were present at a meeting at Rahul Gandhi’s home in Delhi where Gehlot was reminded about the long-delayed cabinet changes. Rahul Gandhi was not in the meeting however, sources said.
Last year, Pilot camped in Delhi with 18 MLAs for weeks as he felt short-changed and sidelined by Gehlot in the Rajasthan Congress. Three MLA’s had broken from Sachin to avert a repeat of the Madhya Pradesh situation when Jyotiraditya Scindia joined the BJP and made the Congress government lose its majority . These MLA’s are also expected to be compensated with a ministerial berth and other posts.
In 2018, when the Congress won the Rajasthan election, Pilot was credited with the party’s win but had to settle for the post of Gehlot’s deputy leading to a revolt within two factions of party.
In September this Pilot met Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi on several occasions. Sources in party said the party high command Gandhis want Pilot to take charge of Gujarat ahead of elections in the State next year.