Pilot in Delhi to press claims

Congress leader Sachin Pilot is once again in Delhi in a bid to have a dialogue with the party high command. In the last couple of days political activity has heated up in Rajasthan with Pilot demanding that the high-powered committee set up by the high command take a stand on his and his supporters’ demands.

In July last, Pilot rushed to Delhi when he was served notice in an investigation into an alleged attempt by BJP MLAs to topple the Congress government in Rajasthan. Mr Pilot camped near Delhi for weeks along with MLAs close to him while Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot sequestered Congress MLAs loyal to him at a hotel in Jaipur. The standoff ended with Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra stepping in and persuading Pilot to drop his rebellion.

Pilot, former Rajasthan deputy chief minister, has been pressing for his MLAs and supporters to be accommodated in the state's Cabinet and party posts. So far the Chief Minister has resisted it. Gehlot has nine Cabinet vacancies to fill, and Pilot has reportedly asked for most of them.

Putting an end to speculation, general secretary incharge of Rajasthan Ajay Maken said, “Vacant positions in the Cabinet, boards and commissions would be filled soon and we are in talks with all. I am speaking to Pilotji on a regular basis. Had he been angry, he would not be speaking to me.”

The three-member highpowered committee included Ajay Maken, K.C. Venugopal and the late Ahmed Patel. The Pilot camp is upset that it is going to be a year and yet no visible change has taken place in the state.

The Congress found itself pushed into a corner last year when Jyotiraditya Scindia left the party and toppled the Congress government in Madhya Pradesh. This week another young turk of the party, Jitin Prasada, also quit the Congress to join the BJP.