Congress to field both generals Gehlot & Pilot in Raj poll war

Aditi Tandon
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, November 14

In a strategic move to signal preparedness the Congress today decided to field both its generals — former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and state chief Sachin Pilot — in the Rajasthan poll war on December 7.

Appearing together in the capital to welcome into Congress fold Harish Chandra Meena, the sitting BJP Lok Sabha member from Dausa, both Gehlot and Pilot said they will be contesting the upcoming Rajasthan assembly elections 

“I will fight elections and so will Mr Sachin Pilot,” Gehlot, Congress General Secretary organisation, announced enthusiastically.

Pilot, seated close to Gehlot, first sufficed to smile at his senior’s remarks but later decided to corroborate him. 

“On the directions of Congress President Rahul Gandhi and on the request of Shri Ashok Gehlot I will be contesting the upcoming assembly elections,” said the 41 year old Rajasthan Congress President.

Known to be daggers drawn in state politics,  Gehlot and Pilot wore a semblance of cordiality today denying any kind of rift.

But asked which seat Pilot would contest, Gehlot said seats would be declared later but shortly.

“For today it should be enough of news for you that both of us will be contesting,” said Gehlot, known for his political shrewdness.

Notwithstanding happy vibes between the two politicians, Congress insiders today said the move to field both was sure to intensify the race for chief minister ship of the state should Congress win on December 11, as is widely anticipated.

Sources suggest one reason why the Congress continues to hold back the list of state candidates (BJP announced its first list three days ago) was the ongoing debate on whether both Gehlot and Pilot should contest. In Madhya Pradesh, another election bound state, for instance, none of the senior leaders — state chief Kamal Nath, campaign panel chief Jyotiraditya Scindia or poll coordination committee chief Digvijay Singh — are contesting.

Gehlot, a sitting MLA from Sardarpura in Jodhpur, however has never ruled himself out of the CM race and has been clear from the start that he would fight state polls. Even today he said “everyone should fight elections.”

Meanwhile Pilot, a close friend of Congress Chief Rahul Gandhi, has remained tight lipped about whether he would contest state elections considering he has never contested for assembly earlier. He was Lok Sabha MP.

It’s learnt that the decision to field both Gehlot and Pilot took a while with Pilot throwing his hat in the ring in the very end should he miss out on the race for state CM-ship in case the Congress wins Rajasthan.

Gehlot when asked about the CM face of the party today said the Congress had conventionally never named a CM candidate before elections in Rajasthan.

“We like to respect that history,” he said keeping his own and other options open.

Earlier once he had said in response to a question on Congress’ CM face, “Do you ever know in advance kaun banega crorepati?”

As far as Pilot goes, he would ensure a safe seat for himself lest he ends up like his senior CP Joshi, another Rajasthan Congress stalwart, who had lost thr assembly election by one vote in 2008.

Joshi was then Rajasthan Congress Chief and Ashok Gehlot went on to become state CM.

Sachin Pilot would not want that history to repeat itself.