Sachin Pilot likely to become state Congress chief after 'Shraddha Paksha'

Following the end of the crisis in Punjab, the Congress high command will shift its focus to Rajasthan, where a crisis between Sachin Pilot and Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot has been brewing for quite some time. It is believed that after the end of 'Shraddha Paksha' Sachin Pilot could become the Congress state unit president followed by a cabinet expansion.

Jaipur:The crisis within Punjab Congress ended with Captain Amarinder Singh's resignation as the CM of Punjab and the elevation of Charanjit Singh Channi as the new Punjab CM. With the crisis in Punjab resolved, Congress high command will focus its attention on Rajasthan and take some key decisions.

Even before Punjab, Rajasthan has been witnessing a crisis within the party. In July 2020 in Rajasthan, Sachin Pilot, the former state Congress president, went to Delhi along with 19 of his party MLA's, challenging the leadership of Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot. It was considered a rebellion by Sachin Pilot. He was relieved of all party posts along with his supporting MLAs.

Sachin Pilot returned to the party after an assurance given by Priyanka Gandhi. However, due to Ashok Gehlot's displeasure, Sachin Pilot and his supporting MLAs are not holding any position in the cabinet or major responsibilities within the party. The Pilot camp is still waiting for the promises made by the Congress high command to be fulfilled.

The issue of Rajasthan is older than Punjab

The dispute between former Chief Minister Amarinder Singh and Congress State President Navjot Singh Sidhu in Punjab Congress is only 6-months old. While the dispute between Sachin Pilot and Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot in Rajasthan is ongoing for 14 months. A committee of AICC has also been formed to resolve this dispute. The report of the committee has also reached the Congress high command, but before Rajasthan, the Congress high command gave preference to Punjab and resolved it. Whereas, even after 14 months, Sachin Pilot and his associates are waiting for the fulfilment of the promises made to them.

The Congress high command may consider a cabinet expansion and an overhaul of party organization in Rajasthan. But the reality is that there is a difference in the conditions of Rajasthan and Punjab. In Punjab, there was displeasure of the MLAs against Amarinder Singh, while in Rajasthan, most of the MLAs are in awe of Ashok Gehlot. In such a situation, the high command cannot decide on a direct change of leadership. Rather, it can appoint Sachin Pilot as the state Congress president. On the other hand, Ashok Gehlot is still one of the most reliable leaders of the Gandhi family, so changes can't be affected overnight. Hence, change of Chief Minister in Rajasthan has been deferred for the moment.

Too much delay will cause damage

For the last 14 months in Rajasthan, Sachin Pilot is waiting along with his supporters to get responsibilities in the Congress party. Even though it is being discussed in Rajasthan about the possible cabinet expansion, but the reality is that the Congress high command has to first reinstate Sachin Pilot as the party chief before thinking about other things.

It is being reported that first Sachin Pilot will be appointed as the Congress state president followed by the cabinet expansion, organization expansion and political appointments.

Reinstating Sachin Pilot in the Congress party as soon as possible is a priority for the high command because the party has already lost leaders like Jyotiraditya Scindia and Jitin Prasada in other states due to delay in taking key decisions. Sachin Pilot is necessary for the Congress high command as he will be the party's star campaigner in other states.

There may be a change after the end of 'Shraddha Paksha'

Now, rumours are making rounds that after the Shraddha Paksha, the work of Congress organization and cabinet expansion will be done in the state. However, there are still 15 days for the Shradh Paksha to end, only after that, there will be some kind of solution to Rajasthan's political woes.