Jaipur PCC in a fix over punishing Lal

After making controversial statements about Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, legislator Bhanwar Lal Sharma has become the biggest liability for the party. 

Local leadership is in a fix over taking any disciplinary action against Sharma. Senior leaders, including PCC chief Sachin Pilot, have been changing tones about the Sharma issue.

According to Congress leaders, if Sharma is expelled from the party, not only total number of the Congress legislators, which is just 21, will be get reduced in the state Assembly but questions will be raised on leadership of PCC chief Sachin Pilot and leader of opposition Rameshwar Dudi. In case Congress legislators are reduced to below 20, the party may lose the leader of opposition status. Party fears that action against Sharma will hurt some veteran legislators which may further damage its prospects.

Immediately after Sharma’s statement in the morning, Pilot assumed an aggressive stance and said he strongly condemned it. “I and state in-charge Gurudas Kamat will talk to party high command about this matter. Strong action will be taken in this case as party will not tolerate indiscipline anymore,” said Pilot in the morning.

In the evening, the aggression of leaders disappeared and both Pilot and leader of opposition Rameshwar Dudi said that explanation has been sought over this issue from the legislator. “Let him give a reply,” he added.

“I have personally spoken to the legislator. He denied making any remarks on our top leadership. He is out of town and I will meet him once he comes back. Meanwhile, we have sought an explanation from him,” said Rameshwar Dudi. When asked whether the case will be referred to AICC or PCC disciplinary committee, the leaders again said that the legislator should first file his explanation.

Similar anti-party statements were made by Sharma over his differences with former chief minister Ashok Gehlot during Assembly elections. 

Sources informed that Sharma wants his party to expel him and there were strong rumours that he may join the BJP. 

Sources informed that the BJP is eyeing on him to fill the void of the strong Brahmin leadership in its state unit or he may be sent to Rajya Sabha where party needs good support over article 370.

Entry of Sharma into the BJP camp will also give strong platform to chief minister Vasundhara Raje to deal with BJP legislator Ghanshyam Tiwari, the strong  Brahmin leader in BJP camp and arch rival of Raje. The move will be a big dent on leadership of both Pilot and Dudi.