Jaipur: In a significant development following a month of infighting between Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot and his former deputy Sachin Pilot, the Congress party on Sunday removed Avinash Pande as the All India Congress Committee (AICC) in-charge of the state.
This is being seen as the party complying with one of the demands Pilot made in his meeting with the Gandhi family last week. After this meeting, Pilot had put his rebellion against Gehlot to rest.
Senior party leader Ajay Maken has replaced Pande.
While the party was quick in taking action against Pilot’s rebellion, sacking him from his position of deputy chief minister and Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee chief, likely on Gehlot’s insistence, both Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi wanted to give Pilot a chance, especially after losing another relatively young leader, Jyotiraditya Scindia.
It is believed that after Pilot told the high command that Pande is serving Gehlot’s interests, the Gandhis decided not to rely on Pande anymore.
Senior Congress leader K.C. Venugopal was asked to intervene. He was sent to speak to the Gehlot camp MLAs in Jaisalmer, while making sure that Gehlot is kept away in Jaipur.
On Venugopal’s input, the party had announced the constitution of a three-member committee to address the issues raised by Pilot and the other rebel MLAs of Rajasthan, and arrive at an appropriate resolution.
On August 16, the party also decided to appoint senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel, AICC general secretary in-charge of the organisation Venugopal and Ajay Maken as members of this committee.
Also read: As Pilot’s Conduct Earns Him Brownie Points, Gehlot Could Have to Come to a Compromise
It is speculated that Ahmed Patel had played a key role in settling the crisis in the state. Patel, a well-known Gehlot supporter, is no longer seen to back him. The Gandhi family is in fact relying on Patel to immediately resolve Pilot’s “grievances” and uphold the credibility of their promise made to Pilot.
Meanwhile, both Gehlot and Pilot thanked Pande for his efforts in managing the party in Rajasthan.
My heartiest thanks to Shri Avinash Pandey ji for his valuable support and guidance as the AICC in-charge of Rajasthan. His efforts to establish coordination between the party organisation and the govt have been highly commendable. I wish him all the best. @avinashpandeinc
— Ashok Gehlot (@ashokgehlot51) August 16, 2020
श्री @ajaymaken जी को राजस्थान प्रभारी महासचिव नियुक्त किए जाने पर हार्दिक बधाई। आपकी नियुक्ति से निश्चित ही राजस्थान कांग्रेस के कार्यकर्ताओं की उम्मीदों को बल मिलेगा। उज्ज्वल भविष्य की कामना के साथ मैं अजय माकन जी का वीर भूमि राजस्थान में स्वागत भी करता हूँ।
— Sachin Pilot (@SachinPilot) August 16, 2020
Pilot, in addition, also thanked the party for appointing Patel, Venugopal and Maken as members of the committee, while Gehlot did not respond to this development.
राजस्थान में समन्वय स्थापित करने के लिए आज श्री @ahmedpatel, श्री @kcvenugopalmp, श्री @ajaymaken के रूप में तीन सदस्यीय कमेटी नियुक्त करने के लिए कांग्रेस नेतृत्व का आभार। मुझे पूर्ण विश्वास है कि कमेटी के मार्गदर्शन में राजस्थान में संगठन को एक नई दशा और दिशा मिलेगी।
— Sachin Pilot (@SachinPilot) August 16, 2020
The Gehlot-led Congress government on Friday won the confidence motion on the floor of the state assembly. Pilot has also stated that he would not accept the position of deputy chief minister.