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Tag: Gehlot Vs Pilot

  • Gehlot-Pilot tussle: Won’t shy away from taking ‘tough decisions’, says Congress

    By PTI

    INDORE: Amid the power tussle between Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and his former deputy Sachin Pilot, senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Sunday said if needed, the party will not shy away from taking “tough decisions” to strengthen the organisation in that state.

    For the Congress, its organisation in Rajasthan is most important, Ramesh, the party’s general secretary in charge of communications, told reporters in Indore during the Bharat Jodo Yatra.

    Gehlot on Thursday told NDTV that Pilot is a ‘gaddar’ (traitor) and cannot replace him, drawing a sharp response from his former deputy who said such “mud-slinging” would not help, in an escalation of their rift days ahead of the entry of Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ into the desert state.

    Gehlot also said Pilot had revolted against Congress in 2020 and alleged that he tried to topple the state government. Pilot had hit back at Gehlot to say it was unbecoming of his stature to use the kind of language to attack him and make completely “false and baseless” allegations.ALSO READ | Congress deputes KC Venugopal to douse Rajasthan crisis

    Asked about the tussle between Gehlot and Pilot, Ramesh on Sunday said, “The organisation is most important for us. On the issue of Rajasthan, we will decide on a solution which will strengthen our organisation.”

    “For this, if we have to take tough decisions, we will take. If a compromise has to be made (between the factions of Gehlot and Pilot), then it will be done,” he said.

    Ramesh also said the Congress leadership is considering a proper solution to the Rajasthan issue.

    “But, I cannot fix any time frame for this solution. Only the Congress leadership will decide the time frame for it,” he said.

    Ramesh further said the Congress needs both Gehlot and Pilot. He also said the Rajasthan CM should not have used certain words in his interview.COLUMN | Ajay Maken ko gussa kyon aata hai and the many headaches of Sachin Pilot

    Speaking on the Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Yatra, Ramesh said like other states, it would also be successful in Rajasthan.

    The foot march, a mass contact initiative of the Congress, started on September 7 at Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu. It is currently underway in Madhya Pradesh. On December 4, the yatra will enter Rajasthan, where the Assembly elections are due next year.

    On the Bharatiya Janata Party’s promise of the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code in its manifesto for the upcoming Gujarat Assembly polls, Ramesh said, “The debate on the UCC should continue inside and outside Parliament.”

    “But, the BJP deliberately raises divisive issues during elections to polarise votes,” he alleged.

    Ramesh said the BJP has raised the issue of UCC to gain in the Gujarat Assembly elections, scheduled on December 1 and 5. “They (BJP) will forget the issue after the elections,” he claimed.ALSO READ | Experts warn against rush for ‘complex’ Uniform Civil Code

    The main contest in Gujarat is between the ruling BJP and the opposition Congress, Ramesh asserted and claimed the Aam Aadmi Party’s “balloon” will burst after the results are declared.

    “The media has inflated this balloon. The AAP does not seem strong at the grassroots level in Gujarat,” he further claimed.

    INDORE: Amid the power tussle between Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and his former deputy Sachin Pilot, senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Sunday said if needed, the party will not shy away from taking “tough decisions” to strengthen the organisation in that state.

    For the Congress, its organisation in Rajasthan is most important, Ramesh, the party’s general secretary in charge of communications, told reporters in Indore during the Bharat Jodo Yatra.

    Gehlot on Thursday told NDTV that Pilot is a ‘gaddar’ (traitor) and cannot replace him, drawing a sharp response from his former deputy who said such “mud-slinging” would not help, in an escalation of their rift days ahead of the entry of Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ into the desert state.

    Gehlot also said Pilot had revolted against Congress in 2020 and alleged that he tried to topple the state government. Pilot had hit back at Gehlot to say it was unbecoming of his stature to use the kind of language to attack him and make completely “false and baseless” allegations.ALSO READ | Congress deputes KC Venugopal to douse Rajasthan crisis

    Asked about the tussle between Gehlot and Pilot, Ramesh on Sunday said, “The organisation is most important for us. On the issue of Rajasthan, we will decide on a solution which will strengthen our organisation.”

    “For this, if we have to take tough decisions, we will take. If a compromise has to be made (between the factions of Gehlot and Pilot), then it will be done,” he said.

    Ramesh also said the Congress leadership is considering a proper solution to the Rajasthan issue.

    “But, I cannot fix any time frame for this solution. Only the Congress leadership will decide the time frame for it,” he said.

    Ramesh further said the Congress needs both Gehlot and Pilot. He also said the Rajasthan CM should not have used certain words in his interview.COLUMN | Ajay Maken ko gussa kyon aata hai and the many headaches of Sachin Pilot

    Speaking on the Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Yatra, Ramesh said like other states, it would also be successful in Rajasthan.

    The foot march, a mass contact initiative of the Congress, started on September 7 at Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu. It is currently underway in Madhya Pradesh. On December 4, the yatra will enter Rajasthan, where the Assembly elections are due next year.

    On the Bharatiya Janata Party’s promise of the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code in its manifesto for the upcoming Gujarat Assembly polls, Ramesh said, “The debate on the UCC should continue inside and outside Parliament.”

    “But, the BJP deliberately raises divisive issues during elections to polarise votes,” he alleged.

    Ramesh said the BJP has raised the issue of UCC to gain in the Gujarat Assembly elections, scheduled on December 1 and 5. “They (BJP) will forget the issue after the elections,” he claimed.ALSO READ | Experts warn against rush for ‘complex’ Uniform Civil Code

    The main contest in Gujarat is between the ruling BJP and the opposition Congress, Ramesh asserted and claimed the Aam Aadmi Party’s “balloon” will burst after the results are declared.

    “The media has inflated this balloon. The AAP does not seem strong at the grassroots level in Gujarat,” he further claimed.

  • Gehlot calling Pilot traitor `unexpected’, crisis will be resolved by leadership: Congress

    By PTI

    SANAVAD: Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Friday said Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot using the term “Gaddar” (traitor) for party colleague Sachin Pilot was “unexpected.”

    The party needs both the warring leaders and the crisis in the Rajasthan unit will be resolved keeping in mind the interests of the organization and not individuals, he added.

    Ramesh, the Congress’s media head, was speaking during Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra here.

    Gehlot, in an interview with NDTV on Thursday, said Pilot was a “Gaddar” and cannot replace him as Rajasthan CM, drawing a sharp response from his former deputy who said such “mud-slinging” would not help.

    Gehlot also alleged that Pilot had rebelled against the Congress in 2020 and tried to topple the party’s government in Rajasthan.

    “Gehlot is a senior and experienced leader of the Congress. But the term used by him in an interview (for Pilot) is unexpected and even I am surprised,” Ramesh said.

    “The party needs both Gehlot and Pilot. There are some differences but we are not running away from this. The leadership will find an appropriate solution to the Rajasthan issue, but it will be done keeping in mind the party organization and not the individuals,” he further said.

    Ramesh also described Pilot as a “youthful, energetic, popular and charismatic leader.”

    In a swipe at the Bharatiya Janata Party, he said, “Congress leaders can speak from their heart without any fear because the party leadership does not take any decision like a dictator, and this is the difference between the Congress and BJP.”

    The tussle between Gehlot and Pilot has flared up at a time when the Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Yatra is poised to enter Rajasthan in a few days.COLUMN | Ajay Maken ko gussa kyon aata hai and the many headaches of Sachin Pilot

    SANAVAD: Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Friday said Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot using the term “Gaddar” (traitor) for party colleague Sachin Pilot was “unexpected.”

    The party needs both the warring leaders and the crisis in the Rajasthan unit will be resolved keeping in mind the interests of the organization and not individuals, he added.

    Ramesh, the Congress’s media head, was speaking during Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra here.

    Gehlot, in an interview with NDTV on Thursday, said Pilot was a “Gaddar” and cannot replace him as Rajasthan CM, drawing a sharp response from his former deputy who said such “mud-slinging” would not help.

    Gehlot also alleged that Pilot had rebelled against the Congress in 2020 and tried to topple the party’s government in Rajasthan.

    “Gehlot is a senior and experienced leader of the Congress. But the term used by him in an interview (for Pilot) is unexpected and even I am surprised,” Ramesh said.

    “The party needs both Gehlot and Pilot. There are some differences but we are not running away from this. The leadership will find an appropriate solution to the Rajasthan issue, but it will be done keeping in mind the party organization and not the individuals,” he further said.

    Ramesh also described Pilot as a “youthful, energetic, popular and charismatic leader.”

    In a swipe at the Bharatiya Janata Party, he said, “Congress leaders can speak from their heart without any fear because the party leadership does not take any decision like a dictator, and this is the difference between the Congress and BJP.”

    The tussle between Gehlot and Pilot has flared up at a time when the Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Yatra is poised to enter Rajasthan in a few days.COLUMN | Ajay Maken ko gussa kyon aata hai and the many headaches of Sachin Pilot

  • Axe could fall on six Gehlot ministers in Rajasthan

    Express News Service
    JAIPUR:  Major changes are on the cards in Rajasthan as the AICC general secretary Ajay Maken has indicated that several ministers in the Gehlot cabinet may be shifted to the state Congress unit while the CM has struck a conciliatory note with the Pilot camp.

    Maken was in Jaipur for the past three days and held one-on-one meetings with 115 party MLAs and other legislators supporting the Gehlot government. Speaking to the media after meeting the office bearers on Friday, he said that a decision has been taken to constitute district Congress committees and finalise other appointments in the state.

    “I spoke to all MLAs and party leaders in Rajasthan and discussed how we can work for the upcoming state elections and retain our position. We will soon appoint district and block-level chiefs in the state,” Maken said.

    Maken confirmed that he sought feedback on cabinet expansion and the performance of the government adding that he will submit a report to the party’s central leadership.

    Significantly, before leaving for Delhi, Maken also said, “there are some ministers who have come forward and said that they are ready to work in the organisation to strengthen the party and I am very thankful to them.” Though he refused to specify the number of such ministers, Maken’s statement is seen as a clear hint that some current ministers may be dropped in the reshuffle.

    Meanwhile, the CM had advised all Congress MLAs to “forget and forgive” the old grievances towards the Pilot camp during a dinner hosted at his residence on Thursday for the MLAs.

    However, Pilot himself was notably absent in the meeting as he was away in the national capital. Sources in the Congress party said that around six ministers of the current 21 may be dropped, 10 new ministers inducted and a change in portfolios are likely in the rejig expected in early August.

  • Punjab done, Congress now moves to settle Rajasthan issues

    Express News Service
    NEW DELHI: After settling issues in the Punjab unit, the Congress high command is now focusing on Rajasthan to find a solution to the ongoing tussle between Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and former state party chief Sachin Pilot. A decision is expected soon.  

    KC Venugopal, general secretary (organisation) is visiting Jaipur where he is scheduled to meet Gehlot, Pilot, party MLAs and leaders from the state before an organisational rejig in the state unit. There has been long pending demand for a reshuffle in Rajasthan Congress and Pilot has sent several reminders to Congress chief regarding the same.

    “I am a Rajya Sabha MP from Rajasthan and visiting Jaipur for related works,” Venugopal said before leaving for Jaipur.  

    Sources said that the changes in the state unit are expected “as early as next week” with people from Pilot’s group likely to be inducted in the state cabinet, organization, and state boards.

    ALSO READ | Navjot Singh Sidhu takes over as Punjab Congress chief

    It’s been a year since the rebellion by the Pilot camp but the Congress high command has failed to address issues flagged by the former deputy CM. A three-member committee constituted to settle the issue failed to do so in the last year.

    Pilot and MLAs supporting him were removed from the state cabinet and organizational positions after they rebelled against Gehlot. Pilot has maintained that he is not looking for any posts but that his men be accommodated in the cabinet and other organisational posts in the state.  

    “After settling trouble between Punjab CM Amarinder Singh and PCC chief Navjot Sigh Sidhu, the high command wants issues in the Rajasthan unit to be addressed at the earliest. There have been a couple of meetings in the last one week in Delhi and now, the general secretary in-charge organization is in Jaipur to address it. Decisions are expected soon,” sources added.   

    Pilot, who was offered a post in the AICC, has been eyeing the chief minister’s post as he was promised by the top leadership after the party’s election win in 2018. He was assured by former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi and general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra that his concerns will be addressed before the 2023 assembly election.