Pilot signals truce, meets Gandhis
■ Cong to form panel to address issues ■ Sachin, MLAs to return to Jaipur
Ahead of the August 14 Assembly session, a breakthrough seemed to be in sight for the Congress government in Rajasthan with former deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot meeting both Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi in Delhi and discussing a possible formula for rapprochement.
In a statement after the meeting, which lasted for more than two hours, Congress general secretary (organisation), said: “Sachin Pilot has met with former Congress president Rahul Gandhi and expressed his grievances in detail. They have had a frank, open and conclusive discussion. Sachin Pilot has committed to working in the interest of the Congress Party and the Congress government in Rajasthan”.
“Following this meeting, Congress president Sonia Gandhi has decided that the AICC will constitute a three-member committee
Sachin Pilot has met with former Congress president Rahul Gandhi and expressed his grievances in detail. They have had a frank, open and conclusive discussion. Sachin Pilot has committed to working in the interest of the Congress party and the Congress government in Rajasthan.
— Congress
◗ Sonia Gandhi has decided to constitute a three-member committee to address the issues raised by Sachin Pilot and the aggrieved MLAs
◗ Sources said that Sachin Pilot has demanded that he be reinstated as the state Congress chief and be made chief minister for the last year of the term of the government in Rajasthan. The Central leadership was reportedly in no mood to agree to these demands.
◗ At the meeting, favourable voting by Pilot and MLAs loyal to him in case of a trust vote during the state Assembly session was discussed
◗ Ashok Gehlot wants that his former deputy be adjusted in Delhi and kept away from state politics
to address the issues raised by Sachin Pilot and the aggrieved MLAs and arrive at an appropriate resolution thereof,” the statement said.
Sources said most of the 18 MLAs loyal to Mr Pilot were set to return to Jaipur tonight to meet chief minister Ashok
Gehlot.
Party sources add that some of the rebel MLAs have also been in touch with the Congress leadership in the last few days. However, it was yet unclear as to whether the party’s Central leadership had accepted the demands of either Mr Pilot or Mr
Gehlot.
Sources said that Mr Pilot has demanded that he be reinstated as the state Congress chief and be made chief minister for the last year of the term of the government in Rajasthan. The Central leadership was in no mood to agree to these demands.
Mr Gehlot on the other hand wanted that his former deputy be adjusted in Delhi and kept away from state politics, according to sources.
It was clear that the committee would look into these demands and take a call, the sources added.
During the meeting among the many things discussed was favourable voting by Mr Pilot and MLAs loyal to him in case of a trust vote during the upcoming Rajasthan Assembly session.
Mr Pilot and 18 other MLAs had rebelled against the Gehlot-led Congress government in Rajasthan, leading to his sacking as deputy chief minister and state party chief.
The Congress has a total of 107 MLAs in the 200member Rajasthan Assembly. This includes six MLAs who were previously with the BSP.
Mr Pilot and other rebel MLAs would face disqualification in case they defy the Congress whip on the floor of the House.