Disgruntled Pilot parked in Delhi to get Cabinet dues
‘Party panel must address grievances’
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 Mr 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, Mr 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 Mr Pilot to drop his rebellion.
Mr 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. Mr Gehlot has nine Cabinet vacancies to fill, and Mr 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 Scindhia 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. At this point the high command wants no more desertions, especially somebody of the level of Mr Pilot.