Sachin Pilot Signs Congress Letter. His Camp Reads Between The Lines | Inside Details

Last Updated:January 20, 2025, 15:16 IST

A recent release from the All India Congress Committee (AICC) signed by Sachin Pilot has caught the attention of the Congress members

Sachin Pilot in Rajsamand on Monday. (X)

In the 2023 Rajasthan “revolt", the central leadership dispatched emissaries to sort the Ashok Gehlot versus Sachin Pilot mess. While Sachin Pilot came back “home" and all seemed well and the government stayed intact, Pilot had to pay the price of losing both his posts as Pradesh Congress Committee chief and Deputy CM.

This is because the emissaries, Ajay Maken and Randeep Surjewala, were told by then Rajasthan CM Gehlot that if “Sachin Pilot is not taught a lesson, there could be similar revolts in the party and disciplinary issues could arise".

Despite photo ops of beaming Pilot and Gehlot that came later, the Congress lost the state polls, and things have never been the same again. Pilot emerged as a star campaigner and was also made general secretary in-charge of Chhattisgarh. He has the eyes and ears of the Gandhis, especially Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.

So a recent release from the All India Congress Committee (AICC) signed by Pilot caught attention. It’s a routine one listing the star campaigners for the Delhi state elections. But one name stands out: Ashok Gehlot. Those close to Pilot say: “It’s a big deal. It shows Pilot is not petty and is magnanimous."

THE LETTER SIGNED BY PILOT

The letter was signed by Pilot as general secretary and has a list of star campaigners, which mentions Gehlot. To those who have been supporting Pilot and pitching for him to be given a larger role and say in the party in Rajasthan, it’s this small office release which gives them pleasure and hope.

Gehlot has been facing flak post the results for the disarray in the party. While the Congress did not fare too badly in the polls, considering that Rajasthan sees a cyclical pattern of electoral performance, many in the Congress felt that the infighting between Gehlot and Pilot has soured things so much that the state unit is suffering.

There is also a growing demand that Pilot should be given charge of the party once again. But then Gehlot and his supporters say that it was under Gehlot’s leadership that the Congress was able to pull off a relatively good performance despite the defeat.

The Congress will see organisational changes soon. There is a pitch now to insist that Gehlot should be made organisational in-charge. It may seem tough and almost impossible now to replace KC Venugopal, who has the firm backing of the Gandhis. This may dash the hopes of Gehlot, but Pilot’s supporters would be happy to see Gehlot out in the cold.

They ask – Is Sachin Pilot’s signature a sign of changing times and fortunes?

News politics Sachin Pilot Signs Congress Letter. His Camp Reads Between The Lines | Inside Details