Rajasthan
Rebel Congress leader Sachin Pilot seeks appointment with top leadership : Report
New Delhi/IBNS: Rebel Congress leader Sachin Pilot has sought an appointment with Congress leadership exactly a month after he and 18 other dissident party MLAs declared revolt against Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, said media reports.
According to a Hindustan Times report, Pilot has sought an appointment with former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi and has been in touch with Congress veterans like Ahmed Patel and KC Venugopal in what is being seen as a softening of his stance, two Congress leaders familiar with the development have said.
The report said it isn't clear if Gandhi has consented for a meeting, but given the relationship he shared with Pilot once, the meeting is likely to happen, the leaders cited above have said.
However, Pilot has denied such a development, the report said, adding that he also declined to speak on it.
A member of Pilot's team pointed out that the Congress Legislature Party meeting had ruled out the return of the rebels and that Pilot's rebellion had risen from his disagreement over the operational style of Gehlot.
The two Congress leaders mentioned above have said some of the MLAs in Pilot's camp may have got restless with Ashok Gehlot-led Rajasthan government looking reasonably safe and want him to reach some sort of understanding with the top leadership, the report added.
Meanwhile, in a meeting on Sunday Congress members of Rajasthan legislative assembly (MLAs) have demanded Sachin Pilot and the 19 rebel party lawmakers should not be accommodated in the party contrary to the wishes of Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot.
Rajasthan urban development and housing minister Shanti Dhariwal said in the meeting held in Jaisalmer that betrayers should not be allowed to return, which was supported unanimously by other lawmakers, a Congress leader told HT.
Further, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot told the media on Sunday that the majority of the dissident party MLAs would return as they know that the public is angry with them.
Rajasthan Governor Kalraj Mishra has agreed to call an assembly session on August 14 after repeated requests by Gehlot, who said a session was necessary to discuss several bills, including one on the coronavirus pandemic.
Gehlot is aiming a floor test for his besieged government to put an end to the political crisis.
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