Rajasthan’s political arena continues to be in turmoil with the central party leadership seemingly buying time as the “promised” expansion of the Ashok Gehlot cabinet on July 29 hasn’t taken place.
While AICC General Secretary Incharge Ajay Maken has been rushed to Rajasthan to “engage” the MLAs in talks either in groups and individually, the rebel leader Sachin Pilot, sources said is in Delhi again to make efforts for his desired clout in the Gehlot dispensation.
Gehlot too seems to be dilly dallying as he convened a meeting to discuss the party’s manifesto which he claimed is a routine exercise before reshuffling in the government.
Maken is in Jaipur and interacting with party legislators based on which he will give the feedback to the party high command. AICC sources said Maken is taking feedback on a set of questions which includes the existing functioning of the council of ministers and other commissions and boards. The feedback details also seek information from MLAs on ministers’ performances in districts and implementation of state government’s flagships schemes. The list of legislators also includes former BSP MLAs who merged with Congress, besides the independents.
Pilot and his loyalist legislators have been at loggerheads with Gehlot to be justifiably accommodated in the government after leading a revolt since July 2020. The demand gained momentum after the party leadership addressed similar disgruntlement in its Punjab unit and the rebel Navjot Singh Sidhu was appointed as the Punjab Congress president last week.
While Maken is doing his political exercise in the State capital, Pilot reached Delhi making attempts to meet top leaders like Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi who had made efforts to placate him last year. A fortnight ago, Pilot had made similar efforts to reach out to party leaders in the national Capital.
On the feedback issue, Rajasthan Transport Minister Pratap Singh Khacharyiawas told The Pioneer that Congress was a democratic party and the high command hears all its members. He mentioned there is no dispute in the party and a cabinet reshuffle was the prerogative of the chief minister and a decision on this will be taken in discussion with the party high command ultimately.
Pilot’s loyalist MLA Vedprakash Solanki said he had apprised Maken of all the issues and hence he was satisfied that their grievances and demands will be conveyed to the senior most party leaders.
In the assembly of 200 members, Congress has 106 MLAs while most of the 13 independents are in support of the ruling party.
AICC general secretaries Maken and KC Venugopal had earlier held a meeting with Gehlot over Cabinet reshuffle during their visit to Jaipur last Saturday and Sunday. Maken had then announced that Gehlot’s cabinet expansion will be done on July 29.