Pilot’s expulsion from Congress imminent
Former Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister, Sachin Pilot’s expulsion from the Congress appears to be a foregone conclusion, with Rahul Gandhi making it abundantly clear that the “Young Turks” were free to go wherever they wished to. What could also be a double whammy for the promising youthful politician is that the Bharatiya Janata Party too, is unlikely to admit him in its ranks, if he cannot muster the numbers required to topple the Ashok Gehlot government.
The BJP would not like to be viewed as a party that tried to oust Gehlot yet failed. Under these circumstances, it would encourage Pilot to form his own regional outfit, thereby leaving him in political lurch. On his part, Pilot continues to make overtures to the Congress leadership, hoping that he would be adjusted in the organisation and thus provided a respectable face-saver.
On Saturday, Congress sources stated that Pilot’s exit from the party was imminent, particularly after his repeated efforts to reduce the state government to a minority. Disciplinary action against him has been delayed since the party wants him to be both expelled from the organisation as well as face disqualification from the Legislative Assembly.
However, some of the senior leaders believe that his membership of the Congress should have been terminated post haste and an appropriate decision regarding his disqualification could be taken subsequently. The logic is that if a strong and decisive action was initiated against Pilot, it would send a stern warning to other leaders amidst the younger brigade who seem to be in “a tearing hurry to acquire power” and have been tweeting on social media in his favour.
What has irked the Congress high command is that Pilot and his supporters have been attempting to create an impression that there was a tussle going on within the party, between the seniors and juniors, when in actuality, this is not the scenario. In the case of Rajasthan, Ashok Gehlot was chosen over Pilot since he had wider support amongst the elected legisla