Rahul, Priyanka spare more time to resolve Punjab, Rajasthan crisis

In the process of handling the internal wrangling of the party, Congress high command, led by Gandhis, has made their presence during the recent events in both Punjab and Rajasthan, writes Niyamika Singh.

New Delhi: The central leadership of the Congress party has once again proved that it can play a dominant role when the tussle among factional leaders goes beyond control. This situation was first created in Punjab and it seems now that the next one is Rajasthan.

In the last two years, Captain Amarinder Singh, ex-Chief Minister of Punjab, had hardly visited Delhi. He had even failed to take visible corrective measures on the grievances of dissident legislators relating to the non-fulfilment of tall poll promises made by the Congress party.

In view of Captain's long-term loyalty to the Gandhi family, it was a bit surprising when party high command asked him to step down from the CM's post. In addition to this, the appointment of Charanjeet Singh Channi as the first Dalit CM, Gandhis not just kept factional fighting under check but also played an electoral masterstroke, while considering the state's demography.

Even to take a decision over the Cabinet expansion, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had a vast consultation with the party leaders due to which the Punjab Chief Minister was also summoned to Delhi twice within a period of 24 hours.

A similar case is now being seen in Rajasthan as Sachin Pilot had two meetings with Rahul Gandhi in the past one week. Leaders and workers of the Pilot faction have been waiting for the changes in both Cabinet and organization for a very long time.

As per the speculations, the pending matters of Rajasthan, like cabinet expansion, political appointments and organizational changes will be resolved during Navratri.

Apart from the promises being made to him regarding the inclusion of his loyalists in Cabinet as well as in various boards and corporations, Pilot has been given an offer by the party high command to either choose the post of an AICC General Secretary incharge for Gujarat or to retain his position of Pradesh Congress Committee chief of Rajasthan.

This meeting has reportedly created a sense of uneasiness among the members of Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot's camp. Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi has discussed about cabinet rejig with Rajasthan Speaker CP Joshi, whom he met last week before leaving for Shimla.

However, as per the sources, the party high command has made it clear to Pilot that there will be no change in the state leadership but it might be possible that Gehlot may leave his post in the last year of his government.