Two days after Congress won in Rajasthan assembly elections, the prevailing infighting in the party concluded over the deadlock between the name of the next Chief Minister of Rajasthan.
Annoyed by the rumours of Congress leader Ashok Gehlot to be made as the chief minister of Rajasthan, the supporters of Rajasthan Congress President Sachin Pilot, also a forerunner for the post of chief minister staged protests at several places in Rajasthan.
The supporters of Sachin Pilot had blocked the roads in Karauli and Dausa districts, dominated by the Gujjar community. The police had tightened the security in Gujjar belts fearing fierce protests. Even outside Pilot's residence in Jalupura, his supporters chanted slogans in favour of his candidature.
The rounds of protests urged 41-year-old Pilot to appeal on his twitter handle to maintain "peace and decorum" amid reports of his supporters blocking the highway in the tense race for the post of Rajasthan chief minister. In the next tweet, he also requested media for not spreading rumours that can lead to a tense situation.
40 MLAs threaten to resign
According to the sources, two-time chief minister Ashok Gehlot (67) was emerging as the party's choice after Rahul Gandhi met the two leaders in Delhi. But Sachin Pilot has reportedly refused to stand down quietly. A senior Congress leader told DH, "Pilot was offered a Deputy CM position but he refused to accept it. Also, fourty MLA's who support Pilot have threatened to resign if Pilot is not made the next Chief Minister of Rajasthan".
"Party won all the assembly bypolls under his leadership and performed well in panchayat elections. So he should be given a chance", a Pilot supporter told DH". After Congress was reduced to 22 seats in Rajasthan in 2013 polls, Sachin Pilot was appointed as the PCC chief.
RLP extends support to Pilot
Apart from the Congress supporters, Rashtriya Loktantrik Party MLA Hanuman Beniwal also cautioned Congress Chief Rahul Gandhi against appointing veteran Congress leader Ashok Gehlot as Rajasthan CM. In a video which he posted on his twitter handle, he blames Gehlot for ruining political careers of Jat leaders, including former opposition leader Rameshwar Dudi. "CM should be farmer's son, have nothing against Sachin Pilot", he says in a video. His party won three seats in Rajasthan and Beniwal is an emerging political in Jat community.
Security was tightened in Jaipur outside the houses of both the probable next chief ministers of Rajasthan. "Security arrangements have been tightened looking at the large number of supports at both the places. Additional policemen have been deployed to keep things under control," Additional Commission of Jaipur Police Nitindeep Bluggan said.
While the rounds of meetings in Congress headquarter in New Delhi remained inconclusive on Thursday, supporters of both Pradesh Congress Committee president Sachin Pilot and former chief minister Ashok Gehlot had started gathering near their residences since morning. Both leaders left for New Delhi early in the morning.