• Source:JND
HighLights
  1. Gehlot claims 'conspiracy' blocked his Congress President bid.
  2. Denied rebellion against party high command in 2022.
  3. No personal animosity with Sachin Pilot, he clarified.

Former Rajasthan Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Ashok Gehlot on Sunday made controversial statements and alleged that Sonia Gandhi and the Congress High Command had backed him to become Congress president, but a 'conspiracy' kept him out.

Speaking to reporters, Gehlot said, "Who would not want to become the Congress President? When Sonia Gandhi asked me, would I refuse? I feel a conspiracy was hatched against me. I myself wanted to become the Congress President."

The issue dates back to September 2022, when Congress was getting ready for its organisational presidential election. Gehlot was believed to be a prominent contender for the president post, had expressed his desire to contest for it, and even the party high command had initially indicated that he might be considered for the post. 

Gehlot also mentioned that the event was not a revolt against the party leadership but an internal disagreement over Sachin Pilot's possible elevation as the chief minister. He said, "There was a conspiracy to prevent him from becoming the national president."

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The former CM also pointed out that being Congress President is a prestigious post and the likes of Mahatma Gandhi, Motilal Nehru, Jawaharlal Nehru, Vallabhbhai Patel have all been President. Hence, he knew the dignity of the post. Circumstances changed, which changed the political landscape. It was this circumstance that changed. So he could not become president, he said.

It was during the Congress presidential election process that a political crisis occurred in Rajasthan, with a rumour that a change of CM was coming and Sachin Pilot could be made CM, which caused some MLAs to gather at different places depending on their affiliations.

No rebellion against the high command

Gehlot also refuted any argument which says it was a revolt against the high command. He reiterated that it was not a revolt against the central command, but the issue was regarding the choice of a leader. He stated, "There was no rebellion against the high command"

He said that if there was to be a change in leadership, it should have come from the Congress Legislature Party and should not be linked to the controversy of the Manesar episode.

Gehlot said the reasoning behind the alleged rebellion charges did not stand in his opinion, as the high command did not fail to keep faith in him to continue in the post of Chief Minister.

Denial of ambition for power

Gehlot rejected the claim that he gave up the party presidency to retain the Chief Minister’s post, stating that such assumptions were incorrect. He said, "I am not running for any position."

He also stated that, being Chief Minister thrice in past, he doesn’t desire to get into any position and has now decided to concentrate his efforts on consolidating the Congress party and taking up national issues.

The Rajasthan Congress has always been united in the backing of the party high command: Gehlot remarked, recalling events that happened during Indira Gandhi and continue under Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. According to him, they always respected organisational decisions.

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No personal animosity toward Sachin Pilot

Gehlot also mentioned that he bears no personal rivalry with Sachin Pilot and added that their working relations of quite some time continue and both leaders remain in touch.

He stated that differences could have been resolved earlier if the principle of “forgive and forget” had been accepted after the Manesar episode. He added that he had always preferred dialogue and did not want internal disputes to escalate.


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