The leadership warns rivals against any anti-party move.
In what has come as a shot in the arm for Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, the Congress high command has not only reaffirmed full faith in him, but also asked former PCC chief Sachin Pilot to stop speaking against the party. He has also been asked to focus on working for the victory of Congress. This is being seen as a direct message to Pilot that his demands will not be accepted. After this, Gehlot has become more powerful than before. Now, the CM will be able to make decisions more freely.
The developments have, therefore, come as a relief to Gehlot this week. In what goes in favour of Gehlot, Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Ajmer hinted that the OPS and other free schemes will not be continued if BJP comes to power. Secondly, PM Modi has indicated that no CM face would be announced as the BJP would contest the upcoming polls under the collective leadership. After the Karnataka polls, PM Modi’s Ajmer visit was quite significant. Political observers were eager to know what PM Modi announces so as to have an idea about the future strategy of the BJP. PM Modi has signalled that no significant change in the strategy is going to take place.
In other words, the BJP will explain to the people that schemes like OPS, free treatment and free power are all not good for the economy. Similarly, the message is also that senior BJP leader Vasundhara Raje will not be made CM face. However, she will be present on the campaign dais. So, the BJP will fight Assembly polls in Rajasthan on PM Modi’s face. The saffron party will showcase the Modi government’s achievements during the poll campaign. The BJP will also push the Hindutva issues, but in a moderate way. Observers are of the view that the BJP’s strategy will benefit Gehlot as the CM is confident of repeating the Congress government on the basis of his schemes.
Direct intervention by Rahul Gandhi and Congress president Mallikarjuna Kharge has drawn curtains over faction fighting in Rajasthan Congress. Both leaders have signalled that the party leadership is fully behind Gehlot. The party will take strong action against leaders working against the interest of the party. But by raising the corruption issue once again, Pilot has hinted that he would do politics in his own way. All eyes will be on what action plan Pilot unfolds on the death anniversary of his father Rajesh Pilot on 11 June. The high command has made it clear that Gehlot will alone be in the driving seat.