Sachin Pilot to steer all leaders towards unanimity
RAJASTHAN PCC Says no groupism in state unit but only ‘Rahul faction’
NEW DELHI: There are many leaders and many views in Rajasthan Congress, but everyone is united in the aim of bringing the party back on track, said the newly appointed party chief Sachin Pilot. “There are many leaders and many views, but there are no factions. There is only one faction and that is the Rahul Gandhi faction,” Pilot said.
Pilot, who is taking over as president of the state unit that is severely weakened by the clash between veterans Ashok Gehlot and CP Joshi, said he would take “all senior leaders into confidence while taking all crucial decisions.” “We will respect seniority and encourage the youth. We will learn from experienced leaders and inculcate fresh ideas,” Pilot said.
The Union corporate affairs minister is Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi’s pick to lead the Rajasthan state unit and is expected to be acceptable to contesting caste groups and rival factions within the party. Considerable sections of Jats, Meenas and even Muslims have turned hostile to the Congress and Pilot’s immediate challenge would to be to use his credibility to assuage their feelings. A backward Gujjar himself, Pilot is the first PCC chief ever in any state from the community. His appointment is expected to enthuse Gujjars in Western UP and Haryana too, but his task is cut out as the Congress has 20 MPs seeking reelection in Rajasthan. “It is a huge challenge and we have little time. As soon as I take charge on 21st we will have the state election committee meeting. And immediately start our outreach programme,” Pilot said. The party was badly mauled in the recent assembly elections.
He said the challenge is to take politics beyond the binary opposites such as upper caste versus lower castes, and urban versus rural. “That is Rahul Gandhi’s vision. We will have to tell the Congress story in the 21st century context. Our cadres are demoralised and we have to motivate them,” Pilot said.