In a major unfolding of events, All India Congress Committee (AICC) on Thursday dissolved the state executive body of Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC).
The decision to dissolve the state unit was taken immediately after party’s defeat in local body elections of Rajasthan.
Pilot will continue as chief of Rajasthan Congress while other office bearers of PCC are likely to be appointed by first week of December.
The much expected change in PCC is seen as a shift of generation in state Congress camp where old guards are likely to be replaced by second rung of Congress leaders in the state.
“PCC chief is a young leader and he will obviously build his own team of young leaders in the state. Congress has performed miserably in last three elections which clearly suggest that old leaders have been ineffective. It’s very much clear now that young faces will be given prominence in the new executive body,” said a senior Congress leader. When Ashok Gehlot took over as the youngest PCC chief at the age of 34, a lot of young leaders were promoted in his tenure, he added.
Party’s recent defeat in local body elections has now given ammunition to the opponents of Pilot, especially the leaders belonging to Ashok Gehlot and CP Joshi camps in the party.
Sources informed that a former cabinet minister in previous Congress government and a former minister of State (MoS) in UPA government have met AICC chairman Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday and briefed her about the present position of party in Rajasthan.
Before appointment of Sachin Pilot as PCC chief, the entire Congress party in Rajasthan was divided between Gehlot and Joshi camps respectively.
After Pilot’s arrival, a third power centre emerged in state Congress following which leaders of opponent camps started feeling ignored and eventually maintained distances from PCC.
Leaders of both Joshi and Gehlot camps were completely sidelined due to which none the leaders came out to support and strength Congress party during local body elections.
These leaders are now questioning the two consecutive defeat faced by the party under the leadership of Sachin Pilot.
Some of the leaders has been trying to convey a clear message to party high command that they are being ignored in Congress party merely on the basis of personal likes and dislikes.
Due to this differentiation they have been unable to work for betterment of party. The recent meeting of two Rajasthan leaders with party high command can be seen on these lines.
Sources said that amid such resentment, one may not be surprised to see appointments of Pilot’s opponents in the new PCC executive. However the possibilities are remote.
