‘Have no animosity, no ill will towards the CM’

n Rajasthan’s former deputy CM Sachin Pilot spoke to HT about his revolt, why he went incommunicado along with 18 MLAS, his response to personal remarks by chief minister Ashok Gehlot, what he gained from the dissent, and the road ahead.

Edited excerpts:

trying to take advantage of what is going on, they have done some politics. We had made very clear from the beginning that there was no question of leaving the party or joining any other party. against me, it did deeply hurt me. I felt I was wronged and aggrieved, and then to hear the things that I heard. To say the least, it wasn’t charitable and was unparliamentary. But two wrongs don’t make a right. I chose not to respond. (Laughs) I didn’t say that, the CM has said that. But it gives you an insight of what the happenings were there. When I was party president for five years, I didn’t seem to have those disqualifications and negativities attached to me. Just in 18 months, they have come to the fore? Bringing a party back to power when we were down to 21 MLAS after elections were lost when Ashokji was CM. At that time, Rahul Gandhiji asked me to be state chief and showed faith in me. Even though I was younger than other leaders, it was my responsibility to take everyone along. There were differences even then but, as head of the family, I left no stone unturned to carry everyone under one umbrella. I think the same course applies for the head of the government.