Sachin Pilot said rumors were spreading to slander him in the Gandhis.
New Delhi:
Rahul Gandhi is “keen to keep the doors open for Sachin Pilot,” congressional sources told GalacticGaming today, hours after the rebel leader said he was not joining the BJP and rumors have spread. propagated for “slandering with the Gandhis”. The party also held back Ashok Gehlot, asking him to moderate his statements against his former deputy, the sources said. The warning, however, came long after Mr. Gehlot claimed he had evidence of Mr. Pilot’s horse trade with the BJP.
Gandhi has not yet had direct contact with Pilot, although he did speak to him through envoys once this weekend, according to congressional sources. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra had touched the base with him three times.
Much now depends on Mr. Pilot. But the party – challenged the rebel leader to stop fraternizing with the BJP and renounce the hospitality of a state led by the BJP – has no indication of his next move, sources said. Any decision to script Mr. Pilot’s return will involve a period of reflection, sources said earlier.
Congress action was swift against the key leader of Rajasthan, who had camped in Delhi for most of the weekend. Not only was he removed from office in the party and the government, but the party also initiated recusal proceedings against him and his loyalist deputies.
Today, after declaring that it would not join the BJP, the party challenged the rebel leader to stop fraternizing with the BJP and to give up the hospitality of a state led by the BJP.
“We want to tell Pilot that if you don’t want to go to the BJP, then don’t accept Haryana’s hospitality. If you don’t want to go to the BJP, stop talking to a BJP leader or member”, A said Randeep Surjewala.
In the evening, Ashok Gehlot accused Mr. Pilot of being involved in the BJP horse trade. The chief minister, whose government was pushed to the brink of collapse following Mr. Pilot’s rebellion, said, “The former CCP leader was involved in relations with the BJP. I evidence of the horse trade. “
“Money has been offered. And who said that nothing was happening? Those who were themselves part of the plot are giving clarifications,” Gehlot told reporters, citing a figure of 20 crore rupees.
A quick reality check followed from Team Pilot. Two deputies who went to the Bahujan Samaj party congress in Mayawati at the request of Mr. Gehlot, asked how much money they had been paid.
With the rebel squad looking considerably weakened, Gehlot’s team said the government was safe because it had the support of 106 MPs, as against yesterday when Congress seemed barely halfway through the 200 assembly members.
