Signs of a thaw in Rajasthan Congress? Sachin Pilot meets Ashok Gehlot

Jaipur: Amid a history of political discord, Congress MLA Sachin Pilot has called on senior party leader and former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot at his residence in Jaipur. The meeting, which lasted nearly an hour on the other day, was aimed at inviting Gehlot to a memorial event marking the 25th death anniversary of Pilot’s father and late Union Minister Rajesh Pilot.
 

Speaking to reporters after the visit, Pilot clarified that the meeting was solely to extend a personal invitation to Gehlot for the programme scheduled on Wednesday. He later shared a photo of the meeting on social media, adding to the political intrigue surrounding the reunion.

In a post on X, Gehlot reminisced about his association with Rajesh Pilot, recalling that both were elected to the Lok Sabha in 1980. “We shared an 18-year-long bond. His sudden demise was a personal loss for me and a major blow to the Congress party,” Gehlot wrote, sharing a video message.
This is the first such meeting between the two in recent years.

The reunion comes against the backdrop of a strained relationship between the two leaders. After the Congress suffered a severe defeat in the 2013 Assembly elections, Pilot was appointed state party chief and played a key role in reviving the party’s fortunes, setting his sights on the Chief Minister’s post following the 2018 victory. However, Gehlot’s elevation to the CM’s chair instead sparked a rift, leading to a long-standing power struggle within the party’s Rajasthan unit.

The factional feud had visibly split the state Congress, with both leaders commanding rival camps. Political observers now say that Gehlot’s attendance at the upcoming memorial event could signal a softening of positions and a potential thaw in their rivalry. Even if he skips the event, Pilot may stand to gain politically by taking the initiative to invite the veteran leader, they added.
Rajesh Pilot was killed in a road accident in June 2000 at Bhandana in his parliamentary constituency Dausa, about 50 km from Jaipur.