Gehlot’s no-holds-barred assault got here on a day when Pilot joined Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on the Bharat Jodo Yatra in Madhya Pradesh.

Congress chief Rahul Gandhi along with his sister and the celebration’s common secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra ans celebration chief Sachin Pilot in the course of the Bharat Jodo Yatra in Khandwa, Madhya Pradesh. (PTI Photo)

In an interview to NDTV information channel, whereas responding to a query on the celebration excessive command desirous to make Pilot the CM and indicating this to celebration observers, Gehlot mentioned: “Nahin, nahin, nahin, usko nahin bana sakte. Woh koi na koi communication gap hua hai. Unko kaisey bana sakte hain? Jo aadmi ke paas dus toh vidhayak nahin hain… jisne revolt kiya ho, jisko gaddari naam diya gaya hai, gaddari ki party ke saath mein… jo party ke saath gaddari kiye hue aadmi hai, usko kaisey sweekar kar sakte hain koi log? Simple baat hai.”

(No, he can’t be made [the CM]. That should have been a communication hole. How can he be made [the CM]. An individual who doesn’t have even 10 MLAs… who revolted and was labelled a traitor, he betrayed the celebration… an individual who betrayed the celebration, how can anyone settle for him? It is easy).”

Gehlot mentioned he hasn’t obtained any “indication” from the celebration excessive command a couple of doable change within the state.

Responding to Gehlot’s remarks, Pilot advised ANI: “If a senior and experienced person makes such comments, it is inappropriate and doesn’t suit him. I don’t think it is right that we level allegations and counter-allegations at each other. It is a challenging time for the party to stay together. And until we work unitedly, how will we return to power in Rajasthan.”

He identified that Gehlot had referred to as him “nikamma (worthless)” earlier too, and mentioned “there is no need to level these false and baseless allegations”. “No person should be so insecure, because this is the order of life, there are ups and downs in politics. All of us should collectively strengthen the hands of Khargeji, Rahulji and Priyankaji,” mentioned Pilot, including that it was beneath his management that the Congress had shaped a authorities in 2018, whereas it misplaced twice beneath Gehlot’s management.

Meanwhile, the Congress reacted cautiously to Gehlot’s assault on Pilot. “Ashok Gehlot is a senior and experienced political leader. Whatever differences he has expressed with his younger colleague Sachin Pilot will be resolved in a manner that strengthens the Congress party,” AICC common secretary accountable for communication Jairam Ramesh mentioned in a press release.

In his interview, Gehlot defended the MLAs who held a parallel Congress Legislature Party (CLP) assembly in Jaipur on September 25, saying they weren’t “rebels” and it was a revolt towards Pilot. He mentioned the present of defiance was not at his behest. “The question does not arise. If a single MLA says that, I will leave the party,” he mentioned.

About 90 celebration MLAs had skipped the CLP meet, the place they have been anticipated to cross a one-line decision authorising the celebration excessive command to choose the following CM, as Gehlot was touted to contest for the put up of Congress president.

“They (MLAs) were upset because word had spread that Pilot would be made the CM. People thought he was going to become the CM. Pilot also behaved that way, he telephoned MLAs several times, told them to leave the decision to the high command… the MLAs perhaps felt that even if only a one-line resolution is passed, there could be a swearing-in the next day,” he mentioned.

Asked what the MLAs had towards Pilot, Gehlot mentioned: “Because of him, we had to remain in a hotel for 34 days (in 2020). He was trying to topple the government, and Amit Shah and Dharmendra Pradhan were involved in that. They were all meeting in Delhi, some of the MLAs who went… some of them met them. People stayed in a resort in Manesar for 34 days, so they felt angry.”

“We cannot imagine a party president joining hands with the Opposition to topple his own party’s government. You cannot find such an example anywhere in the country,” mentioned Gehlot.

Pilot was Rajasthan’s Deputy Chief Minister and state Congress president when he rebelled towards Gehlot in 2020. He was sacked from each the posts then.

Gehlot mentioned Pilot can’t deny his collusion with the BJP. “It was their game. Rs 10 crore was distributed. I have proof, I don’t know who got how much…5 crore or 10 crore. But many people collected the money from the BJP office in Delhi. Some of them have told me this personally,” he mentioned.

Gehlot mentioned Pilot ought to have apologised to the celebration excessive command, individuals of the state and the MLAs. “He has not apologised till date. If he had apologised, I would not have had to apologise. If he had apologised and won over the MLAs again… the mood perhaps would have changed… this situation would not have arisen… I would not have had to apologise to Sonia Gandhi,” he mentioned.

Gehlot mentioned the MLAs who stayed away from the CLP assembly have the “highest respect” for Sonia. “The revolt by 90 MLAs was against Pilot. Some of our ministers later said…we will not accept a traitor,” he mentioned. Asked whether or not he too felt that Pilot was a traitor, Gehlot replied: “Bilkul maante hai… kyun nahin maante (I do, why shouldn’t I)… I am of the view that there is no problem in making someone from among the 102 MLAs who stayed with the party the CM.”

Saying that he was loyal to the excessive command, Gehlot mentioned “it is for the high command to take a decision in the interest of the party”. He mentioned he had conveyed to then celebration president Sonia and celebration chief Ajay Maken in August that he was able to step down if the excessive command wished to nominate a brand new CM forward of state elections subsequent yr.

Gehlot’s aggressive stand presents the primary massive problem for brand spanking new celebration president Mallikarjun Kharge. So far, the celebration excessive command had signalled that it’s going to take a name on Rajasthan after the Assembly elections in Gujarat and Karnataka.