The Chief Minister is considered to have won this round in the internal rivalry.
New Delhi:
Rajasthani Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, who is said to be upset by his opponent Sachin Pilot’s reconciliation with Congress and his return after a meeting with Rahul Gandhi, evaded any response today when asked how he would return work with someone he called. “Nikamma” (useless). He also said it was his responsibility to respond to the grievances of “MPs who are angry” with him.
Asked about the truce with the rebels, the chief minister said he “would give them a warm hug if the party leadership decided to forgive the rebel deputies”.
Sachin Pilot, whom he sacked as deputy, returns to Rajasthan today, a month after launching his revolt. Among the conditions for his return to gold was a grievance panel, including Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, to respond to complaints from 19 rebel lawmakers.
“If an MP is annoyed with me then it is my responsibility to fix this. I have continued to do this in the past and will do it now too,” said Ashok Gehlot, but wondered why the rebels were gone and “what promises” were made to them.
Sources say Chief Minister Gehlot, who, contrary to measured party criticism, had done everything against his sacked MP, did not fully agree with the truce.
Over the past month, Mr Gehlot had publicly accused Mr Pilot of making a deal with the BJP to bring down his government. He also called the 42-year-old leader “nikamma” (useless) and ridiculed him as a politician who influenced the media with only looks and good English.
As he avoided uncomfortable questions about Mr Pilot, the Chief Minister focused on the BJP attack as he spoke to reporters before taking a special flight to Jaisalmer, where he would have to manage a hundred resentful Congressmen. “They were with me from the start. The BJP tried all the tricks in the book, but failed to break us down. They were offered money, jobs, but they did not leave. I told these MPs that until I am alive I will always be their guardian and take care of them, ”Gehlot said.
“The BJP tried to shoot us down but don’t know what hit them. The current government has lost its mind and openly and shamelessly engages in dirty politics just to gain more and more power. Never in Indian history have we seen a more shameless government. Now is the time to teach them a lesson, ”he said.
MPs, sequestered at the city’s Suryagarh hotel in anticipation of a vote of confidence at Friday’s special assembly, feel “disappointed and disillusioned,” sources say, and top congressional leaders have tried to calm them down.
On Sunday evening, MPs said in a meeting that the rebels should be punished for their “treason” and should not be allowed to return.
