'Ashok Gehlot's leader seems to be Vasundhara Raje, not Sonia Gandhi,' says Sachin Pilot in fresh salvo against CM

The Rajasthan Chief had on Sunday claimed Raje and two other BJP leaders helped save his government during the 2020 revolt by his party MLAs

Sachin Pilot on Tuesday renewed the leadership battle in the Rajasthan Congress by targeting his bete noir Ashok Gehlot, saying it appears that the Chief Minister appears to consider BJP’s Vasundhara Raje as his leader and not Sonia Gandhi.

Setting stage for another round of confrontation with Gehlot a month after his fast demanding action against Raje, Pilot also announced a five day Ajmer to Jaipur 125 km 'Jan Sangharsh Padayatra', days after the Chief Minister recalled the 2020 rebellion and claimed that if not for Raje, his government would not have survived.

The renewal of the battle comes a month after he sat on a one-day hunger strike in Jaipur on April 11 demanding immediate probe into corruption allegations against Raje. This time he has added question paper leaks to his agenda for the padayatra, while insisting that his protest is not against any particular person but on issues.

The latest trigger was Gehlot's speech in Dholpur where he said he survived the 2020 revolt by some Congress MLAs led by Pilot because Raje and Kailash Meghwal refused to support the "conspiracy" to topple his government. Raje described Gehlot's "praise" as "big conspiracy" and "lies".

Also Read — 'Gehlot's statement a conspiracy...': Vasundhara Raje hits back

Asked about Pilot’s statement and whether the party is contemplating any action, senior Congress MP Abhishek Singhvi told a press conference, “what stand we take, what we do, what we say will be decided today or tomorrow and you will know. Twenty-four hours is not a long time.”

Addressing a press conference in Jaipur, Pilot said, "after listening to the Chief Minister's speech in Dholpur, it seems the Chief Minister's leader is not Sonia Gandhi but his leader is Vasundhara Raje Scindia."

Pilot also claimed that he now understands why Gehlot did not order a probe against Raje who is facing allegations of graft while asking the Chief Minister to clarify what he meant by his contradictory comments.

He said on one side, Gehlot is talking about the BJP trying to unseat him and on the other, he is saying Raje saved his government and that the Chief Minister should clear the confusion.

The 45-year-old leader, who is eyeing the Chief Minister's post, went on to say, "I have written letters demanding a probe into Raje's corruption for the past one and half years. Gehlot and I had held press conferences (when we were in Opposition). Why is there no probe? Now I understand why the investigation is not happening. I wrote letters and then held a fast on April 11. It is now clear why there was no probe and why there will be no probe."

Emphasising that Gehlot's accusation against own party MLAs and leaders was unfortunate, he said he and some MLAs had gone to Delhi demanding leadership change in 2020 but after discussions with the central leadership, a roadmap for action was decided.

"After that, we have not created any indiscipline. I was called many names (by Gehlot) like Corona, traitor, useless etc. I did not respond...Congress MLAs are defamed while BJP leaders are praised. I cannot comprehend this," he said.

He said the leaders against whom Gehlot is levelling allegations have over 30 years of political life and he found it wrong.