Gandhis step in to resolve Rajasthan crisis, Priyanka Vadra calls up Sachin Pilot

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra listened to Sachin Pilot patiently as he said he was not being given his due and, instead, was at the receiving end of petty politics by Ashok Gehlot.

File photo of Priyanka Gandhi Vadra | Photo: Praveen Jain | ThePrint

Kotputli (Rajasthan): The Gandhis have finally stepped in to resolve the political crisis in Rajasthan, ThePrint has learnt.

Sources told ThePrint that party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra made a phone call to disgruntled leader and Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot Sunday night.

“Priyanka Gandhi made a phone call to Sachin Pilot on Sunday night and discussed the matter. He told her that he wants his due and that he has waited a long time for it,” a source told ThePrint. “He maintained that he wants CMship and it was quite petty that Gehlot served him a notice.

“Rahul and Sonia have made it clear that CMship is not on the agenda but the party is willing to make certain changes as desired by Pilot,” added the source. 

Pilot was referring to the notice issued to him, the Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and others by the Rajasthan Police’s Special Operation Group (SOG) to record their statements in connection with the arrest of two BJP leaders for their alleged attempt to topple the Congress government. Pilot believes that though the notices were sent to many Congress leaders, they were meant to target him. 

Priyanka heard him patiently

According to another senior leader, Priyanka heard Pilot patiently and asked him to meet in person and discuss the matter, but so far nothing has materialised on that front. 

“Pilot said he has been humiliated a lot and despite the fact that he worked hard for the party in Rajasthan he is yet to get his due,” said the senior leader. “We are hopeful that he will change his stance and adopt a more congenial approach.” 

The party has so far adopted a conciliatory tone as it stressed on the fact that its doors remain open for Pilot who has alleged that he is being “sidelined” in the party.  

Senior Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala, who was sent to Jaipur to handle the political crisis, reiterated in a press conference that the state government is stable and urged those MLAs who have not turned up for the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting to do so.

Pilot has been claiming the support of at least 30 party MLAs but Chief Minister Gehlot held a show of strength at his residence Monday morning in which only 18 MLAs didn’t turn up. 

In the 200-member Rajasthan assembly, the Congress has 107 MLAs while the BJP has 72. The Congress also has the support of 11 Independent MLAs, two MLAs of the Bharatiya Tribal Party, one RJD MLA and the outside support of two CPI(M) MLAs.