Jaipur: Former chief minister Ashok Gehlot Monday signalled a renewed sense of unity within the Congress, asserting that former deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot will remain in the party and has learnt from past political missteps linked to the Manesar episode.Responding to remarks by BJP in-charge Radha Mohan Das Agrawal, who described Pilot as a “bahuroopiya,” Gehlot dismissed speculation about the Congress leader’s loyalty. “Both his legs are in Congress and will remain in Congress. Sachin Pilot ji has now gained experience of what the consequences are of making such mistakes. That is why he has now understood, become cautious, and found a grip on himself. I hope he will never leave us again. Our entire party is united,” Gehlot told media persons.Taking a swipe at past dissent, Gehlot added, “Now those who went astray will return, those who misled our people and took them to Manesar.”The remarks come days after a rare public display of bonhomie between Gehlot and Pilot at the All India Congress Committee headquarters, where the two leaders greeted each other warmly.The Gehlot-Pilot rift repeatedly unsettled Rajasthan politics during the Congress govt’s tenure. In July 2020, Pilot, along with a group of MLAs, shifted to Manesar, triggering a major political crisis. The fallout led to his removal as deputy chief minister and state Congress chief. At the time, Gehlot sharply criticised Pilot, calling him “useless and worthless,” though he later advocated reconciliation, urging the party to “forgive and move forward.”BJP state in-charge Radha Mohan Das Agrawal, during his address in Tonk, launched a sharp attack on Congress MLA from Tonk, Sachin Pilot, questioning his local connect and credibility. He said, “Today, a ‘bahurupiya’ (disguised person) has become an MLA from Tonk. He is neither a resident of Tonk nor of Rajasthan. I too come from Uttar Pradesh, but I would not even dream of becoming an MLA here. I am not a runaway from Uttar Pradesh; I am a strong leader of UP.”The remarks reflect the BJP’s attempt to frame the political contest in Tonk around issues of local identity and representation, directly targeting Pilot’s origins in Uttar Pradesh.
