Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot started his day with a mysterious social media post that seemed to extend an olive branch to his former deputy and current rival, Sachin Pilot. The post, which featured a photo of Gehlot and Pilot in a meeting with other Congress members, was accompanied by the caption “together, winning again.” This gesture comes just days before the state’s Assembly election and after conciliatory remarks made by Pilot, who downplayed the feud between him and Gehlot. Pilot dismissed previous barbs exchanged between the two, including the controversial “nikamma” remark.
In response to Gehlot’s post, Pilot told PTI, “Leave it! Who said what? I can be responsible for what I said… we should maintain dignity in political discussions.” Pilot also mentioned that Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge had advised him to “forgive, forget, and move on.” Despite his rebellion three years ago, Pilot remains optimistic about his chances of becoming Chief Minister if the Congress retains power. He believes that the decision will ultimately be made by the party leadership once they secure a majority in the election.
The rivalry between Gehlot and Pilot has been ongoing since the Congress defeated the BJP in the 2018 election. The tension between the two leaders has persisted, even after a truce brokered by Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. The Congress is now facing the challenge of infighting as it competes against the BJP in the upcoming election. On the other hand, the BJP has chosen to focus on Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the face of their campaign in order to avoid conflicts among state leaders.
Rajasthan is one of five states holding elections this month, with results set to be announced on December 3rd. The other states voting are Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, and Mizoram.
