Sachin Pilot, who had refused to meet anyone but the Gandhis to discuss the dispute, listed his demands during his meeting with Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi on Monday.
File photo of Congress leaders Sachin Pilot and Rahul Gandhi (PTI)
Congress rebel leader Sachin Pilot met with Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra in New Delhi on Monday. Sources privy to the developments said Sachin Pilot held a “positive” meeting with Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi and the deadlock may be broken soon.
During the meeting, Sachin Pilot listed his demands to end his rebellion against Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot. Sachin Pilot and 18 Rajasthan MLAs loyal to him have been staying at a hotel in Manesar, giving rise to speculations that they may join forces with the Bharatiya Janata Party and topple the Ashok Gehlot-led Congress government.
Sachin Pilot, who had refused to meet anyone but the Gandhis to discuss the issue, listed his demands during the Monday meeting.
Here are the demands listed by Sachin Pilot:
1) A public announcement to make Sachin Pilot the chief minister in the future
2) If not, then two senior leaders from Sachin Pilot Camp to become deputy chief ministers and all the other leaders to be adjusted in the state cabinet or other board trusts and corporations and Sachin Pilot can take over the post of Congress General Secretary in Delhi.
3) For an honourable return, Sachin Pilot wants to publicly announce the implementation of the promises made by Rahul Gandhi in Congress manifesto.
According to sources, Rahul Gandhi has asked Sachin Pilot to return to his two posts of deputy chief minister and Rajasthan Congress chief. He was sacked from both posts after he skipped two Congress Legislature Party meets.
Sources say Rahul Gandhi has assured Sachin Pilot that if returns to his posts, a committee will be formed for the functioning of the government.
Rahul Gandhi has also expressed his desire to talk to all MLAs of the Sachin Pilot camp.
Meanwhile, the MLAs loyal to CM Ashok Gehlot have demanded action against dissident MLAs led by Sachin Pilot.
At the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting at Suryagarh hotel in Jaisalmer on Sunday, Congress’s in-charge in Rajasthan Avinash Pande told the Gehklot camp MLAs that the party will not be soft towards the rebel MLAs. Shanti Dhariwal, Congress’s Parliamentary Affairs Minister, lashed out at rebel MLAs belonging to the Sachin Pilot group.