Jaipur: Amid political slugfest, Congress leader Sachin Pilot has returned to Rajasthan on Wednesday after staying in New Delhi for five days without meeting Congress high command following a prolonged tussle between him and Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot. The visit came in the backdrop of his loyalist MLAs making comments on the internal issues of the party. The infighting going on in the state unit of Congress over cabinet expansion and political appointments is yet to be resolved.
Ahead of the cabinet reshuffle in Rajasthan, while Pilot was demanding 5-6 ministerial posts for his loyalist MLAs as a mark of respect, the party has offered him 3 posts in the cabinet. So far no cognizance has been taken by the Congress high command over the matter. According to sources, during Pilot's visit, there were no plans to meet Rahul Gandhi, but a meeting was expected with Rajasthan In-charge Ajay Maken and General Secretary, Organisation KC Venugopal.
Read:| Amid Rajasthan political turmoil, will Pilot be left red-faced again?
Upon his return, MLAs apprised Pilot over their strategy ahead and he is expected to stay in Jaipur for the next few days. The Sachin Pilot camp has been consistently demanding the party to fulfil its promises which were being made to them last year on the condition of ending their rebellion against the state government. They have also questioned that not even a single meeting of the All India Congress Committee (AICC), formed to resolve this feud, was held in the last one year.
According to Pilot loyalist MLAs, the Congress leaders and workers who gave their 'sweat and blood to revive the party after it suffered its worst-ever defeat in 2013' need to get adequate recognition and respect when the party is in power now. Notably, in the 2013 Rajasthan Assembly polls, Congress managed to win only 21 out of the total 200 seats. The Pilot camp also said that political appointments should be given to those that have carried the burden of making the congress win at the polling booths and not cherry-picked retired beaurocrats and officers whose loyalties are temporary, at best.
Read:| Gehlot Vs Pilot: Fresh cracks appear as CM 'poaches' another MLA
According to sources, Congress high command may accept some of the demands of Sachin Pilot. Sources said that the high command is proposing to Sachin Pilot to become the General Secretary of AICC but Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has not given any response over the proposal. They also said that there is no fight for the post of Chief Minister in Rajasthan as Gehlot will remain the CM for his current five-year term.
However, Pilot has made it clear that he will not accept any post of AICC until his fellow party workers get back their respect.
Read:| Rajasthan BJP leader says 'anything can happen any time' amid signs of discontent within Congress
