Bengaluru (Aryavarth): Amid the dynamic political landscape of India, the Congress party on Thursday reinforced its commitment to present a united front in the imminent Rajasthan elections. The party aims to overturn the recurrent pattern of incumbent governments being unseated in the state. The affirmation came after the party’s leaders, including Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot, his well-known rival, deliberated on the state’s electoral strategy, striving to mitigate their internal conflict.
K C Venugopal, the Congress general secretary overseeing the organization, encapsulated the sentiment of unity in a tweet. “An extremely fruitful strategy meeting on the upcoming Rajasthan elections at the AICC HQ chaired by INC president Sh.@khargeji, in the presence of Sh.@Rahul Gandhi ji, AICC In-charge @sukhjinder_inc, cm sh @ashokgehlot51ji attending virtually, along with other senior leaders.”
Venugopal emphasized the party’s intention to break the trend and bring the Congress government back to power in Rajasthan.
The strategic assembly saw the participation of significant party members such as Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, former party head Rahul Gandhi, Venugopal, AICC in-charge of the state Sukhjinder Randhawa, state unit chief Govind Singh Dotasra, Pilot, and other senior leaders. Chief Minister Gehlot, recuperating from fractures in both his toes, joined the meeting via video conferencing.
Echoing the party’s resolve, Kharge articulated that the party had successfully delivered inclusive development and public welfare schemes to every household in Rajasthan, a testament to the Congress’s commitment to public service, relief, and upliftment.
“Every section of Rajasthan – farmers, farm-labourers, youth, women — is expressing faith in the Congress party,” Kharge said. He added that the party intends to cater to everyone’s aspirations, implying a shift in the state’s voting pattern, famously referred to as the revolving door trend.
In a Facebook post, Gandhi reiterated his party’s determination to form the government in Rajasthan once more, pledging to continue striving for the people’s improved future.
Congress’ anticipatory strategy involves Kharge chairing critical meetings with leaders from poll-bound states. He has already conducted sessions with representatives from Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Mizoram.
Rajasthan is garnering considerable attention, as the Congress party aims to defy the state’s habitual voting trend. The feud between Gehlot and Pilot complicates the party’s ambitions for the forthcoming assembly elections.
Despite the rivalry, both Gehlot and Pilot have shown commitment to their party and constituents. Pilot asserted last month that people’s trust was his “biggest asset,” promising to continue his fight for justice and not retreat from his demands. Gehlot, on the other hand, recently pledged to bring a bill to the assembly to increase punishment for recruitment exam paper leaks, suggesting efforts to address corruption concerns.
These developments, combined with marathon discussions held by Kharge and Gandhi with Gehlot and Pilot in May, seem to have paved the way for unity. Following these discussions, the party stated Gehlot and Pilot have agreed to confront the upcoming assembly elections together, leaving unresolved issues to the party high command’s discretion.
However, the power struggle between Gehlot and Pilot, which has been brewing since the Congress party took charge of the state in 2018, remains a matter of concern. Pilot even led a revolt against the Gehlot government in 2020, resulting in his removal from the party’s state unit presidency and deputy chief minister’s post. Despite warnings, Pilot held a day-long fast last month, targeting Gehlot for alleged inaction on corruption
With input from Agencies
