Jyotiraditya Scindia was sworn in today as a member of Rajya Sabha.
New Delhi:
Sachin Pilot – who has lived at a resort town in Haryana for more than a week sheltered from the media and police in Rajasthan – appeared today in a photo tweeted by former colleague Jyotiraditya Scindia, alongside Kuldeep Vishnoi of Congress. Mr. Vishnoi, a three-time MP for Haryana, tweeted the return photo to congratulate Mr. Scindia, as old and new Rajya Sabha members were sworn in today.
Mr Scindia, who joined the BJP in March with 22 MPs, was awarded a seat in the upper chamber by the party. He had lost his seat in Lok Sabha in last year’s elections, which also saw Rahul Gandhi lose his Amethi family territory to the BJP.
Once the most prominent young faces of Congress, MM. Pilot and Scindia share a warm personal relationship. After Mr. Pilot’s rebellion, the latest kid that sparked a crisis for Ashok Gehlot’s government in Rajasthan, Mr. Scindia tweeted a dig in Congress.
“Sad to see my former colleague, @SachinPilot too, being sidelined and persecuted by Rajasthan CM, @ ashokgehlot51. Shows that talent and ability finds little credibility in @INCIndia,” his tweet read.
Since March, Mr. Pilot is expected to follow in Mr. Scindia’s footsteps, bringing the other state lost by the BJP in the 2018 elections within his grasp. Speculation has peaked since his open rebellion against Congress last week. Mr. Pilot denied such an intention, but Congress was skeptical.
The 42-year-old, who was removed from his post as Rajasthan’s deputy chief minister and state congressman, has taken his party to court over his decision to disqualify him from the assembly.
He and his team also remained in BJP-led Rajasthan, defying the party’s request to return to Jaipur.
Mr Pilot and Mr Scindia – leaders followed by the masses – had to settle for less than they expected after Congress won assembly elections in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh in 2018.
Although they clearly defined their ambition for the top post, they came down again following a personal intervention by Rahul Gandhi. Mr Scindia was made responsible for western Uttar Pradesh ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.
Mr. Pilot was appointed Deputy Chief Minister. For the rejuvenation of the party after its decimation by the BJP in 2013, he was also allowed to retain the post of head of state party – which has become a catalyst for hostilities between him and Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot.
Mr Bishnoi, 51, who is the youngest son of former Haryana chief minister Bhajan Lal, had called on Congress to do everything to keep Mr Pilot in the party.
“My appeal to the Congressional High Command is that the way Jyotiraditya Scindia left the party caused him a big loss. Now we hear such rumors about Sachin Pilot. If they are rumors, then there is no problem, but if it is true then Congress should do everything to persuade him, ”Bishnoi said in a video message posted on his Twitter account.
