Senior Congress leader Sachin Pilot chose not to address speculations surrounding the launch of his own political outfit during a mega event held in Dausa to commemorate the death anniversary of his father, Rajesh Pilot. Instead, the 45-year-old focused on his role as an anti-corruption crusader and advocate for the underprivileged, even if it meant challenging his own party’s Government. Pilot’s silence on his political future has left pundits intrigued.
Addressing the event, Pilot emphasised the importance of people’s trust and stated that he would continue fighting for justice and not back down on his demands. He has been criticising the Ashok Gehlot-led Congress Government in Rajasthan for alleged inaction on corruption charges against the previous BJP-led dispensation under Vasundhara Raje.
“God gives the biggest justice and if not today, then tomorrow justice will be done,” said Pilot, who has been engaged in a power tussle with Gehlot since the Congress-formed a Government in the State in 2018. Remembering his father, he said he always spoke with firmness and therefore, whether he was on any post or not, there were crores of people who used to listen to him.
Asserting that it is "very important" to speak out in politics, Pilot referred to the deaths of newborns in a hospital in Kota in January 2020 when he was still Deputy CM.
He said he had then stated that it should not have happened and if there was any shortcoming or mistake in the rule, then it should be corrected without blaming others.
"I believe that there should not be even a single death, the situation should be improved. Today, a good hospital in Kota has been made and the deaths have stopped.," Pilot said.
Before the unveiling of the statue, Sachin Pilot offered floral tributes to his father in Bandhana village. Ministers Parsadi Lal Meena, Mamta Bhupesh, Pratap Singh Khachariyawas, Rajendra Gudha, Hemaram Chaudhary and Brijendra Ola; MLAs Deependra Singh Shekhawat, GR Khatana, Murari Lal Meena, Mukesh Bhakar, Khiladi Bairwa and Mukesh Bhakar were among those present at the programmes.
The Congress party has expressed confidence in finding a “positive solution” to the internal discord in Rajasthan and dismissed reports of Pilot forming a new party.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and other party leaders also paid tribute to Rajesh Pilot, praising his commitment to raising the voice of the deprived, exploited, and farmers. Kharge tweeted his heartfelt tributes to Rajesh Pilot, tagging Sachin Pilot in the message. Last month, Kharge and Rahul Gandhi held extensive discussions with Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot separately in an attempt to defuse tensions. The party stated that Gehlot and Pilot have agreed to contest the upcoming assembly elections together and have left all issues to be resolved by the party’s high command.
The power struggle between Gehlot and Pilot has been ongoing since the Congress formed the government in Rajasthan in 2018. In 2020, Pilot led a revolt against the Gehlot government, resulting in his removal from the positions of the party’s state unit president and deputy chief minister. Despite warnings from the party, Pilot staged a day-long fast in April to highlight Gehlot’s alleged inaction on corruption.