Rivals shake hands in Rajasthan Cong: A sign of thaw or just optics?

Jaipur: Rajasthan Congress witnessed an unprecedented ‘reunion’ last week, with rivals Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot putting up a public show of camaraderie and dismissing their bitter differences in the past. Is the clash of the titans in the state Congress finally over? So it seems, at least for now.

The turn of events started when Pilot, party’s national general secretary, went to Gehlot’s residence on June 7 and invited him for the 25th death anniversary of his father and former Union minister Rajesh Pilot. The meeting between the former CM and his then-deputy lasted for over an hour. Soon, both leaders amplified their meeting on social media, giving out a message that “all is well” between them.

It came as a surprise for many as the feud of the duo has been a constant feature of the party since 2018. 

Political observers say this is perhaps the first time that Pilot went to Gehlot’s home to invite him personally; in the past he used to merely send out invites.   

Gehlot, a seasoned politician, seized the opportunity and attended the event, on June 11, paying glowing tributes to the senior Pilot and remembering his association with him.

Emphasising his bonhomie with the junior Pilot, Gehlot said there have never been any differences between the two. “When were we apart? We were never apart. Love and affection have always been there and will continue to remain.” 

Gehlot’s younger rival was more eloquent. “What’s in the past is in the past. Time won’t come back, we have to look ahead. We have to work together...The future lies in working unitedly to combat forces that are bent upon dividing the country. The Congress is the only alternative nationwide that can propose any hope,” Pilot told a TV channel.

It is natural to wonder if their rapprochement is merely an optics or has a deeper message for the party and its leaders.  

Some political observers say both Gehlot and Pilot are shrewd politicians and are not going anywhere in a hurry. Rajasthan is their battleground and it is here they will fight it out on their way to wrest the top position. 

For Pilot, who is in-charge of the party affairs in Chhattisgarh and often stays out of his home state, the death anniversary of his father came as an opportunity to show his strength. Apart from Gehlot, 11 senior leaders from the Congress’ central leadership, including AICC general secretary for Rajasthan Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, eight MPs and 47 MLAs were present at the function.  

“It is still three-and-a-half years till the next Assembly election. But this change of heart towards Gehlot is a kind of build-up for 2028. Pilot is stressing he has enough people on his side and that he should be the rightful heir to the throne if the party comes to power,” says Narayan Bareth, a senior political analyst. 

Bareth cites Pilot’s responsibilities and the changing dynamics in the state Congress to buttress his argument. Due to his responsibilities in Chhattisgarh, Pilot has to be out of the state quite often. Moreover, he might be feeling a bit “threatened” by the rise of leaders like Govind Singh Dotasara, state Congress president, and Tikaram Jully, Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly.

“These two leaders have carved out a niche for themselves. Though they can hardly be considered as contenders for the top post, Pilot needed to reassure himself and this occasion proved handy. He had to create a public perception of amiability between the two, in which he succeeded to an extent. He had the good sense to invite Gehlot personally and put it out publicly. Gehlot, thus, could not refuse outrightly. Otherwise it would have sent wrong signals, indicating that the elder leader did not want to mend fences,” says Bareth.

But there are others who believe the coming together of the rivals may have been engineered by the High Command.

Sunny Sebastian, a political observer and author, says the patch-up may have come after a push from Delhi.

“Backroom negotiators may have tried to instill sense into these leaders as Congress has a strong grassroots connect in Rajasthan. This is a two-party state and Congress has strong chances of coming to power next time, courtesy the state’s tendency to change the government every five years. This thaw is a good omen for the party as both Gehlot and Pilot swear by the party and have never left it. In turn the party also needs to find meaningful roles for them. Both have organisational capabilities that have been tried and tested. Their popularity remains unmatched,” says Sebastian. 

But many believe this truce, even if it is for public perception, has gone in favour of Pilot. The former deputy CM is said to have toured at least 12 districts, gauging his popularity before he took his father’s death anniversary as a stage to project his strength, says Prakash Bhandari, a senior political journalist. 

In politics, however, there is no retirement. Gehlot, being an astute politician, would not pass the mantle easily. 

He had won the first round by becoming the CM in 2018, sidelining his flamboyant rival. Though Pilot was made his deputy, Gehlot controlled all key files.

Their rivalry erupted when Pilot rebelled with 18 other MLAs against his own government, with the alleged support of BJP. Gehlot had then called Pilot “nakaara” (incapable) and “nikamma” (worthless). However, the crisis fizzled out after a truce was brokered between the two. 

The peace lasted till September 2022, when Gehlot was asked to assume the role of Congress president and Pilot was told to prepare to take over the CM throne. Gehlot, who had always been loyal to the Gandhis, became defiant and revolted. He managed to stay on as the CM till the 2023 Assembly polls.  

Although the new-found bonhomie between the two is a good sign for the Congress, sceptics say that beneath the publicly polished veneer, there is no love lost between the two.

(The writer is a Jaipur-based journalist)