Page 9 - Sachin Pilot

Sachin Pilot dubs PM praising Rajasthan CM as 'interesting development'

Former Rajasthan deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot on Wednesday raised eyebrows over Prime Minister Narendra Modi praise for CM Ashok Gehlot and also nudged his party to end the state of indecision over the chief minister's post. He also pushed for action by the party against Rajasthan leaders who led a show of strength for Gehlot in September, boycotting a Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting. His remarks on the interesting development that he said should not be taken lightly signal the resumption of the tussle within the party's state unit -- briefly on hold while the Congress presidential election was on. Pilot, who led a rebellion in 2020 against Gehlot, targeted the veteran leader by referring to Tuesday's event at Mangarh Dham in Banswara district, where Gehlot shared the dais with Modi. The leaders there paid tribute to the tribal people killed in an uprising against the British in 1913. The PM praised the chief minister and this is an interesting development because th

Kharge announced to implement Udaipur declaration, says Sachin Pilot

With Mallikarjun Kharge taking over at the helm of affairs in Congress, Sachin Pilot on Wednesday said that 50 per cent of party posts would be given to party workers below 50 years of age

As Cong prez poll nears climax, focus to shift on Gehlot-Pilot duel in Raj

After the fate of the electoral fight for the post of the next Congress president between Mallikarjun Kharge and Shashi Tharoor gets sealed on Monday, focus will shift to long-running rivalry between Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and his bete noire Sachin Pilot for who gets to call the shots in the largely desert state. Late last month, the matter had come to a head after 82 Congress MLAs in Rajasthan did not attend an official legislature party meeting convened for passing a resolution authorising the Congress chief to appoint a successor to Gehlot, who was then about to contest the Congress presidential election, and participated in a parallel meeting at Gehlot loyalist Shanti Dhariwal's residence in Jaipur. While Gehlot has long been known as a loyalist to the first family of the country's oldest party, his position as the Gandhis' confidant is said to have been dented with the developments last month. Pilot, who had rebelled against Gehlot's leadership in 2020, is seen a

Sachin Pilot reaches Raje's home turf in train, fans queue up for selfies

It was a different scene in the Jhalawar-bound train from Jaipur on Monday as passengers were seen queuing up to take selfie with former Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot

Gehlot targets Pilot, says Rajasthan MLAs got agitated over new CM's name

In a veiled attack on party leader Sachin Pilot, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Sunday said it was important to know why there was resentment among MLAs over the name of a new chief minister in the state. Several MLAs loyal to Gehlot, who was seen as the frontrunner for the post of the Congress national president, had last week submitted resignation letters over a possible move to appoint Pilot as the next chief minister. Gehlot later announced that he will not contest the Congress presidential polls as he took moral responsibility for the political crisis in his state. Referring to the crisis, he said 80-90 per cent MLAs switch sides when a new chief minister is going to be appointed but this did not happen in Rajasthan. "When a chief minister is changed, 80-90 percent (MLAs) leave him and switch sides. They turn to the new candidate. I too don't consider it wrong. But it was a new case in Rajasthan where the MLAs got agitated just in the name of the new chief minister,"

Gehlot targets Pilot, says Rajasthan MLAs got agitated over name of new CM

In a veiled attack on Sachin Pilot, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Sunday said it should be looked into as to why there was resentment among MLAs over the name of a new chief minister in the state. Several MLAs loyal to Gehlot, who was seen as the frontrunner for the post of Congress national president, had last week submitted resignation letters over a possible move to appoint Pilot as the next chief minister. Gehlot later announced that he will not contest the Congress presidential polls as he took moral responsibility for the political crisis in his state. Referring to the crisis, he said 80-90 percent MLAs switch sides when a new chief minister is going to be appointed but this did not happen in Rajasthan. When a chief minister is changed, 80-90 percent (MLAs) leave him and switch sides. They turn to the new candidate. I too don't consider it wrong. But it was a new case in Rajasthan where the MLAs got agitated just in the name of the new chief minister, Gehlot said .

Gehlot's desert storm may just sweep away Congress's gains in Rajasthan

Will the desert storm wipe out the Congress in Rajasthan? Can the divided Congress infuse fresh energy in its demotivated workers?

Congress president poll: As nominations close, here are 10 things to know

This is the first Congress president election in more than 20 years with no member of the Gandhi family in the contest

Decision on Raj leadership will be in national interest: State Cong leader

Rajasthan Minister Pratap Khachariyawas, who is a loyalist of Ashok Gehlot, expressed hope that the decision on leadership in the state will be taking note of the "feelings of Congress loyalists".

Met Sonia Gandhi, discussed events in Rajasthan in detail: Sachin Pilot

Former Rajasthan deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot on Thursday night met Congress president Sonia Gandhi and said he discussed the events in the state in detail and expressed his sentiments on the situation. Pilot spent around an hour at Gandhi's residence and also conveyed his feedback to her. "I met Congress president Sonia Gandhi and we discussed the events in Rajasthan in detail," Pilot said after meeting the Congress chief. Pilot met hours after his bete noire Ashok Gehlot met Sonia Gandhi in the afternoon, after which the Rajasthan chief minister announced that he will opt out of the Congress president's race. "I have conveyed my sentiments, given my feedback to Sonia Gandhi. Our priority is to win 2023 assembly polls in Rajasthan for which we will have to work together," Pilot said after the meeting. "Whatever positive decisions have to be taken with respect to Rajasthan, Congress president will take," Pilot said when asked on the action to be taken by the party after the

Congress leader Sachin Pilot arrives in Delhi, reason not disclosed

Amid the ongoing political crisis in Rajasthan, Congress leader Sachin Pilot on Tuesday reached Delhi from Jaipur, but the reason for his arrival has not yet been disclosed

High command sends team to resolve Ashok Gehlot-Sachin Pilot standoff

Protesting MLAs demand that no one from the Pilot camp should be appointed CM

Congress asks Gehlot to ensure 'discipline' in party amid MLAs' revolt

The Gehlot loyalists want someone from their own camp to be chosen as the next Chief Minister, instead of Pilot, who, according to them, had revolted against his own party back in 2020

Central leaders persuade Rajasthan Cong MLAs to hold one-to-one meeting

Efforts were underway by senior Congress leaders on Monday to resolve the impasse in Rajasthan after several MLAs loyal to Ashok Gehlot submitted resignation letters over a possible move to appoint Sachin Pilot as the next chief minister. Congress observers Mallikarjun Kharge and Ajay Maken, who had waited in vain for all legislators to arrive for the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting on Sunday, were trying to persuade Gehlot loyalists to meet them one by one in an effort to defuse the political crisis. The Gehlot loyalists had visited Speaker C P Joshi's home after a long meeting at minister Shanti Dhariwal's residence on Sunday, saying they were resigning as MLAs. At the chief minister's home, Gehlot, Kharge and Maken waited for all legislators to arrive for the CLP meeting. Pilot and his supporters came but the meeting was a washout. Gehlot loyalists claimed that over 90 MLAs had visited Joshi's home, but the number could not be verified independently. The Congress has 1

Crisis in Rajasthan Congress as Gehlot-loyalist MLAs threaten to resign

High drama unfolded in Rajasthan Sunday evening as a group of Congress MLAs loyal to Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot headed to the assembly speaker's residence to submit their resignation ahead of a legislature party meeting which was likely to pick his successor. The development suggested a worsening power struggle between the chief minister and Sachin Pilot who was tipped to be Gehlot's replacement after he declared his candidature for the Congress president's post. Congress observers Mallikarjun Kharge and Ajay Maken, along with Gehlot, reached the chief minister's residence where the Congress Legislature Party meeting was to be held. Pilot reached there separately. About 25 legislators were present there, sources said. However, a large group of MLAs loyal to the chief minister who held a meeting at Minister Shanti Dhariwal's residence decided to go to Speaker C P Joshi's residence to submit their resignation. "We are going to the speaker's residence in a bus and will submit our ...

We will not oppose if Sachin Pilot is made CM: Raj minister Rajendra Gudha

Rajasthan minister Rajendra Gudha, one of the six BSP turned Congress MLAs, on Thursday 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. Gudha, who is Minister of State for Panchayati Raj and Rural Development and considered close to Gehlot, cleared his stand that he is not with any face and said the six MLAs would support anyone whom the party high command chooses to run the government. The statement of Gudha came after former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi batted for the "one-man, one-post" concept in lines with the party's Chintan Shivir reforms amid possibility of Gehlot contesting election for the post of national president of the party. Gandhi's statement made in Kochi created a buzz that Gehlot, who is seen as the frontrunner in the party presidential poll, may have to step down as CM if he becomes the party president. "We are with the decision of the party leadership. Whatever decision

If Pilot can become CM by hurling shoes at me he should: Rajasthan minister

Rajasthan Minister Ashok Chandna has reacted sharply to Sachin Pilot supporters hurling footwear towards a stage where he was present, saying if the ex-state Congress president can become chief minister by getting shoes hurled at him, he should do it. He also got into a war of words with Deputy Leader of Opposition in Assembly Rajendra Rathore, who along with him and other leaders of the Congress and BJP was present on the stage when shoes were hurled. The incident happened on Monday at a mass meeting held before the immersion of the ashes of Gurjar leader Kirori Singh Bainsla in the Pushkar lake. However, former deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot was not present at the mass meeting. Both Pilot and Chandna are from the Gurjar community. As soon as Industries Minister Shakuntala Rawat, Sports Minister Chandna and other Congress leaders got on the dais, Pilot's supporters in the crowd started hooting, upset over the former deputy chief minister allegedly not being invited to the ...

Ahead of CWC meet, Congress leaders reject Azad's criticism of Rahul

With Ghulam Nabi Azad's exit casting a shadow on the meeting of the Congress' apex decision-making body, party leaders on Saturday slammed him for "targeted personal vilification" of Rahul Gandhi while the BJP said the veteran leader has raised valid questions. Azad, who ended his five-decade association with the grand old party on Friday, had accused Rahul Gandhi of demolishing its entire consultative mechanism and also pinned the blame on him for the 2014 electoral debacle. Congress leader Sachin Pilot said when the party is preparing to take on the "misgovernance" of the BJP government, the former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister had not fulfilled his responsibility. "He (Azad) held various posts for over 50 years and now, when there is a need for the country and the party to raise people's issues, this was uncalled for," said Pilot. Asked about Azad's statement blaming Rahul Gandhi's action of tearing up a government ordinance in "full glare" of the media for the loss of the .

Allegations in Azad's letter far from truth, says Congress' Sachin Pilot

Rajasthan's former deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot Friday said senior leader Ghulam Nabi Azad resigned from the Congress when there was a need for the country and the party to stand against the BJP rule. Azad Friday ended his decades-long association with the Congress, and blasted the party in an explosive resignation letter to its president Sonia Gandhi. "The timing of the letter is very unfortunate. He remained on various posts over the last 50 years. Today, there was a need for the country and the party to stand against the BJP rule. This is the time of struggle, to put forth the truth and face the BJP," Pilot said. He said the allegations levelled in the letter are far from truth. Pilot said need of the hour is for experienced and young workers to come together. Party workers will continue to struggle and raise their voice against the BJP's "misrule", Pilot said.

'Some leaders' instigating party workers; Ashok Gehlot takes a dig at Pilot

In a veiled attack on his former deputy Sachin Pilot, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said some leaders are instigating party workers by telling them they are not being treated with respect.