Rajasthan: Kharge to meet Gehlot, Pilot today as Congress eyes political ceasefire

Pilot has warned that if his demands are not met, he will launch state-wide agitation

gehlot-pilot-pti-ahlawat Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot; Sachin Pilot | PTI; Sanjay Ahlawat

Amid the growing tussle between Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and his rival Sachin Pilot, the Congress leadership is trying to broker peace between the warring factions before the state heads to polls later this year. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge will meet Gehlot and Pilot separately in New Delhi on Monday, to help iron out differences.

The proposed meeting comes close on the heels of Pilot's "ultimatum" that if three demands he made from the state government were not met by the end of this month, he would launch a state-wide agitation. Pilot has asked for a high-level inquiry into the alleged scams that took place during the tenure of the former Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje government, as one of his demands.

The Rajasthan Congress has been in a state of turmoil since July 2020 when Pilot staged a revolt demanding a change in leadership. He was then removed from the posts of deputy CM and state Congress president. In a fresh flare-up, Pilot undertook a one-day fast and a padayatra in Jaipur, demanding action against the previous BJP government. Though the Congress leadership issued a statement that Pilot's fast was an 'anti-party activity', no stern measures were taken against the former deputy CM. Pilot also openly targetted Gehlot over the latter's comment that Raje helped save his government in 2020 by opposing the BJP’s attempts to bribe MLAs.

The Congress, still high on its victory in the recent Karnataka assembly elections, has to now shift focus to other state units especially Rajasthan where tension has been simmering. Kharge, who was successful in bringing together senior leaders Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar after a hectic lobbying for the top post, might have to use the same formula in Rajasthan.

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