Rebel Rajasthan Congress leader Sachin Pilot on Monday met party boss Rahul Gandhi for two hours in New Delhi and hinted towards softening his stand. Latter’s sister and party’s incharge of Uttar Pradesh, Priyanka Gandhi, later joined them in the meeting.
After meeting with Sachin Pilot, both Rahul and Priyanka later met Congress President Sonia Gandhi. Reports from the party sources said that the party central leadership is working out on a rapprochement formula so that an amicable solution could be found. According to reports, Sonia Gandhi later spoke to Rajasthan Chief Minsiter Ashok Gehlot, further confirming that the efforts are underway to get over the crisis.
Though Pilot is reported to have presented his stand towards Ashok Gehlot, reports emanating from within the party confirmed that he has shown enough sign of climbing down as at least half a dozen of his MLAs are in mood of reconciliation. Meanwhile, suspended party MLA Bhawar Lal Sharma met Ashok Gehlot. Earlier, Sharma had met with senior Congress leader K C Venugopal.
Political observers are of the view that the softening of stand of Sachin is being interpreted as a big victory of Gehlot and a loss for the BJP which had put a lot at stake.The central leadership has reportedly agreed to set up a coordination committee to study the complaints made by Sachin, but there is no scope of Gehlot going to step down.
Meanwhile reports suggest that the BJP is fearing a rift in Rajasthan Legislative Party. The party sent 20 of its MLAs to Gujarat in two batches blaming congress ‘pressure tactics’.
