Will Sachin Pilot become Rajasthan CM by default?

The Congress has called a meeting of its Rajasthan MLAs in Jaipur on Sunday evening as Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has emerged as the front-runner for the Congress President’s post and there is a buzz that this may finally pave the way for Sachin Pilot to step in as Chief Minister.

Ironically, Sachin Pilot, who was earlier sacked as Deputy Chief Minister because he had attempted a coup to break the party in 2020, may now get the top post in the state by default.

The Congress high command has appointed senior leader Mallikarjun Kharge as observer while Ajay Maken, the state in-charge, will also be present at the meeting.

Ashok Gehlot is expected to become the first member of a non-Gandhi family to take over as Congress party chief in two decades.

However, he was reluctant to leave the chief minister’s post, especially if his arch rival Sachin Pilot was going to replace him. However, eventually Gehlot had to fall in line with Rahul Gandhi’s enforcement of the ‘one man, one post’ norm in the party.

Mr Gehlot has come out strongly in favour of one of his loyalists taking over as the Chief Minister, but ultimately the Gandhi family’s writ will prevail. Sachin Pilot is considered close to Rahul and is therefore a strong contender for the past that will fall vacant.

Rajasthan goes to polls at the end of the next year, just six months ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

The sharp rift between Gehlot and Pilot persists.  The Chief Minister demonstrated his strength last week by holding a meeting of all party MLAs when Sachin Pilot was out of town for Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’. After Pilot returned, Gehlot flew down to join Rahul Gandhi for the Yatra to show that he was equally close to the high command.

Meanwhile, Rajasthan minister Rajendra Gudha, one of the six BSP MLAs who crossed over to the Congress, said they would not oppose if Sachin Pilot is made the chief minister in case Ashok Gehlot becomes the party president and quits the CM post.

Sachin Pilot has said the “high command will decide” on who will be Chief Minister.

Mr Gehlot had met party chief Sonia Gandhi and even requested Rahul Gandhi to become the Congress Party chief again. However, Rahul Gandhi, who has seen a string of political defeats under his leadership, stood firm that someone from outside the Gandhi family must become the new chief.