Loyalists meet Pilot, stress on need for Raj cabinet expansion

JAIPUR: At least six MLAs considered close to former Rajasthan deputy CM Sachin Pilot met him on Thursday, and later urged the Congress high command to fill vacant positions in the state cabinet and make key appointments.

The meeting took place after Pilot said the party was yet to resolve the issues that led to his rebellion in July 2020 against CM Ashok Gehlot. One of the MLAs also pointed to a Congress panel looking at problems in the Punjab unit, and asked that if issues raised there could be taken up in 10 days, why should the concerns of the Rajasthan unit not be addressed for 10 months. Congress has said it will take up the pending issues soon.

At least six legislators considered close to former Rajasthan deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot met him on Thursday, and later urged the Congress high command to immediately fill vacant positions in the state cabinet and make key political appointments.

The meeting took place at Pilot’s Jaipur residence a few days after he said the party high command was yet to resolve the issues that led to his rebellion in July 2020 against chief minister Ashok Gehlot, and that a committee constituted to address the concerns he raised last year had failed to deliver.

Rajasthan Congress in-charge Ajay Maken said in response to Pilot’s comments that vacant positions in the cabinet will be filled soon, and all other pending issues will also be taken up.

The legislators who met Pilot — Ved Pakash Solanki, Mukesh Bhakar, Vishwendra Singh, Rakesh Pareek, Suresh Modi and Ramniwas Gawriya — were part of 18 MLAs who rebelled against Gehlot and camped in a hotel in Gurugram. Leaders close to Pilot said that other MLAs were in touch with him though they were not able to come from their constituencies because of the Covid lockdown.

The meeting gains significance as it comes a day after AICC general secretary Bhanwar Jitendra Singh also came out in support of Pilot.

After meeting Pilot for over two hours, MLA Ved Prakash Solanki from the Chaksu constituency, pointed to a Congress panel looking at problems arisen with the party’s Punjab unit. “There has been no discussion or hearings on the demands raised by us…it’s not about the discussions with us but the way issues of Punjab Congress were heard and a report is submitted in 10 days has disappointed workers here. When in Punjab things can happen in 10 days, why it cannot be done here in 10 months?” Solanki asked.

He said, “I am saying repeatedly that governance should be decentralised, and political appointments be done as soon as possible... I also want to say that cabinet expansion should be done... if the CM does not want to consider people belonging to this side (Pilot camp)… don’t do it. At least consider his own people and Congress workers. This is not the time for yours’ or mine but of Congress workers .... ”