No question of leaving the Congress, says Pilot

As uncertainty appears over Rahul Gandhi continuing as Congress President, there is speculation that Sachin Pilot too may quit as Deputy Chief Minister of Rajasthan, in case Gandhi quits his post. Congress sources stated that as Congress President thinking over his resignation, pilot's future hangs in the balance in Rajasthan.

Jaipur: Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister and Congress state chief Sachin Pilot insisted that there was no question of him leaving the party at a time when there was speculation about his role in the party in case Congress President Rahul Gandhi quits.

Speaking to media on Tuesday, Pilot said, "This is a crucial time for the party and there was no question of me leaving the party."

Earlier in the day, Congress sources stated that with Congress Chief himself was mulling over his resignation, Pilot's future hangs in the balance in Rajasthan.

Party sources revealed that Rahul Gandhi was instrumental in making Pilot the state Congress Chief in 2014. After the Assembly polls late last year, Pilot was made Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot's deputy.

However, since then, Rajasthan Congress was being run by two power centres, one led by Chief Minister Gehlot and other by Pilot respectively.

Post-Lok Sabha debacle with Congress scoring not a single seat, both Gehlot and Pilot have been camping in Delhi.

Rahul Gandhi had already expressed his displeasure with Gehlot for putting his son before the party during elections and speculation was rife over whether there could be a leadership change in the state.

Meanwhile, the party has called a meeting on Wednesday in which reasons for defeat in the Lok Sabha elections will be evaluated. Also, a proposal will be passed for Rahul Gandhi to continue as national Congress president, party sources said.

State party in-charge Avinash Pandey will chair the meeting and Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and deputy CM Sachin Pilot are likely to be present in the meeting.