{"id":325090,"date":"2020-07-31T11:21:06","date_gmt":"2020-07-31T11:21:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/tehelka.com\/?p=325090"},"modified":"2020-07-31T11:21:12","modified_gmt":"2020-07-31T11:21:12","slug":"dissent-or-defiance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tehelka.com\/dissent-or-defiance\/","title":{"rendered":"Dissent or defiance?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/tehelka.com\/dissent-or-defiance\/16-1-3\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-325121\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\" wp-image-325121 aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/tehelka.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/16-1-248x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"528\" height=\"639\" srcset=\"https:\/\/tehelka.com\/media\/2020\/07\/16-1-248x300.jpg 248w, https:\/\/tehelka.com\/media\/2020\/07\/16-1-347x420.jpg 347w, https:\/\/tehelka.com\/media\/2020\/07\/16-1.jpg 569w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 528px) 100vw, 528px\" \/><\/a>The political storm to hit Rajasthan draws heavily from prototypical themes of a Shakespearean classic as the crisis drives into a cul de sac.\u00a0 Multitude shades of betrayal, appearance and reality, conflict, corruption, deception, order and disorder pervade the snafu, with vaulting ambition being the recurring language device. Only here, it has not yet proven to be a fatal flaw for either of the two protagonists \u2014 a go-getter young leader hungry for lion\u2019s share of the pie, and a war horse overridden by possession of his position and identity.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/tehelka.com\/dissent-or-defiance\/16-3-2\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-325122\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\" wp-image-325122 aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/tehelka.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/16-3-300x209.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"632\" height=\"440\" srcset=\"https:\/\/tehelka.com\/media\/2020\/07\/16-3-300x209.jpg 300w, https:\/\/tehelka.com\/media\/2020\/07\/16-3-100x70.jpg 100w, https:\/\/tehelka.com\/media\/2020\/07\/16-3-696x484.jpg 696w, https:\/\/tehelka.com\/media\/2020\/07\/16-3.jpg 700w, https:\/\/tehelka.com\/media\/2020\/07\/16-3-604x420.jpg 604w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 632px) 100vw, 632px\" \/><\/a>Demanding that he be elevated to the post of chief minister, former deputy CM Sachin Pilot has rebelled. CM Ashok Gehlot clutching hard onto his government, meanwhile, is countering this wresting away of power with vociferous attacks, whether they are Constitutional, legal or personal. There have also been charges of treachery, coup, and treason followed by not-so-kind barbs. And now a seemingly protracted legal battle has taken this faceoff to a feverish crescendo coupled with a constant clamour by Gehlot for trial of strength, which is yet to be approved by Governor Kalraj Mishra.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">Caught in the crossfire is a party ailing with leadership bankruptcy for which infighting, revolts and exits are no longer an oddity. Congress is still smarting from Jyotiraditya Scindia\u2019s crossover four months ago when its young and popular face announced mutiny, toppling the Kamal Nath government in Madhya Pradesh. Pilot\u2019s uprising bugle couldn\u2019t be more ill-timed as it exposes the chinks in Congress\u2019 armour and its insatiable proclivity towards autothysis. The fierce frontline underlines young order vs old guard, and a critical leadership vacuum since Rahul Gandhi left the top post last year. Stakes are higher for Congress this time as because unlike in MP, there is no external trigger in Rajasthan; only internal dynamics are at play since the drama started unfolding.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"><strong>The Background<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">Pilot and Gehlot have been crossing swords ever since the former was sidelined by the party, pipping the veteran for the top billing after Congress won the 2018 state assembly elections. A CM hopeful, Pilot had avenged his party\u2019s humiliating defeat in 2013 where it could manage only 21 seats and lost miserably to its saffron rival. He was, however, dealt an unfair hand as Congress was eyeballing Lok Sabha elections that were round the corner. There was no love lost between them since then. Much to Gehlot\u2019s chagrin, Pilot had been asserting himself as CM-in-waiting, and the dismal debacle in LS polls where the party could not secure a single seat under Gehlot\u2019s command only emboldened Pilot to further push for his claim on the CM post.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">Once Rahul Gandhi resigned as Congress president last year, Gehlot cornered Pilot further, truncating his say in administrative matters. Both started taking potshots without directly naming each other and the few public appearances they made together left to imagination about their tumultuous relationship.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">The immediate provocation, however, was the notice sent by Rajasthan Police to Pilot on charges of sedition and conspiracy. Disgruntled and pushed against the wall, the second-generation leader refused to take this \u201chumiliation\u201d lying down, scripting a very public showdown that left the Congress red-faced. He along with 19 MLAs left for Delhi, fanning speculation of overthrowing the Gehlot government though he steadfastly maintained that all he wanted was the central leadership to resolve the issue.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/tehelka.com\/dissent-or-defiance\/16-4-2\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-325123\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\" wp-image-325123 aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/tehelka.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/16-4-300x205.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"704\" height=\"481\" srcset=\"https:\/\/tehelka.com\/media\/2020\/07\/16-4-300x205.jpg 300w, https:\/\/tehelka.com\/media\/2020\/07\/16-4-218x150.jpg 218w, https:\/\/tehelka.com\/media\/2020\/07\/16-4-696x475.jpg 696w, https:\/\/tehelka.com\/media\/2020\/07\/16-4-615x420.jpg 615w, https:\/\/tehelka.com\/media\/2020\/07\/16-4.jpg 699w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 704px) 100vw, 704px\" \/><\/a>Gehlot, meanwhile, used his proximity to coerce 10, Janpath to strip Pilot off his charge as Pradesh Congress Committee(PCC) after getting him sacked from deputy\u2019s post by the governor. He also accused Pilot of planning to overthrow his state along with the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party, even claiming of having of Pilot hobnobbing with the right-wing party. The 42-year-old has vehemently denied the allegations. \u201cI have worked so hard for Congress\u2019 victory in the state. Why will I work against my own party? This is just a conspiracy to malign my image,\u201d says the dissenting leader. Contrarily, multiple tapes have emerged on social media where MLAs from his camp are purportedly discussing monetary paybacks with BJP leaders for coup against Gehlot. The tapes allegedly have voices of Rajasthan tourism minister(now sacked) Vishwendra Singh and MLA Bhanwar Lal Sharma hatching the plan with union minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat. They also claim on the tape that Pilot has support of 30 MLAs.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">The Congress has demanded arrest of Shekhawat and Gehlot continues to vilify Pilot publicly. In the most sharpened and recent attack, he has called him \u2018nikamma aur nakara\u2019(useless and worthless), to which Pilot has maintained a dignified silence.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">Even while \u201cupholding\u201d his self-respect, the young rebel made his political ambitions explicitly clear. Persistently asserting his stance of not joining the BJP, he wants the high command to keep its end of the bargain and publicly announce his chief ministership in the remaining period of Rajasthan government. Sources claim that this was a promise made by the party and lies at the heart of the negotiation as also public acknowledgement that the Congress will go to polls under Pilot\u2019s leadership.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">Over the days, he has also been vocal about not being on the same page as Gehlot. In a recent interview, he did not hold back. \u201cAll I wanted was a respectable working environment. Instead, the CM made it an agenda to humiliate me and prevent me from delivering my commitments to my people. It is not about power, position or privilege. It is about dignity and the freedom to work.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">Pilot loyalists echo the sentiment. \u201cThere has been a series of deliberate attempts to insult and undermine Pilot\u2019s leadership and stature in the state. Gehlot has taken it way too far this time. The party must not forget that it has rode home to victory under Pilot\u2019s command and it has not recognised his efforts till now,\u201d says a close aide. They also claim that he has been undercut several times by Gehlot who does not want to extend the authority that comes with being his deputy.\u00a0 \u201cWe have worked selflessly for the party and the state. He is not power hungry. It is fight to protect our dignity and self-respect at a time when our leader is threatened with notices from the SOG under charges of sedition and criminal conspiracy,\u201d senior state leader Vishwendra Singh said. As a show of solidarity, the Pilot camp even boycotted the CLP meeting called by the CM, hence setting stage for litigation as Rajasthan Speaker CP Joshi sent disqualification notice to 19 rebel Congress MLAs, Pilot included.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">Pilot\u2019s rise in the Congress and ladders of political power is verbalised as meteoric. In a career spanning 17 years, the two-time MP has held an independent charge, became PCC chief at 36 followed by deputy CM \u2014 a fete unmatched by his contemporaries including Scindia. This can be attributed to a balancing act of being close to Rahul Gandhi, forthright political hunger and a keen willingness to get his feet wet. He has not shied away from toiling and shouldering responsibilities whenever offered. It also explains why he has kept communication channels open with AICC general secretary Priyanka Gandhi. \u201cHe does not want to rush in and jump the ship. Where else would he be given such stellar portfolio at such a young age? I am sure he is looking at some reprieve instead of just throwing everything away,\u201d says a senior Congress person.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">At the same time, Gehlot who has been thrice CM, and risen up the ranks, has sizeable clout in the state. Having been around for more than three decades now, he first became CM in 1998 at the age of 47, crushing the Bhairon Singh Shekhawat government that was in power since 1990. Despite Pilot being the Rajasthan party chief, the old hand commanded greater influence in General Elections 2018 ticket distribution.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"><strong>Number game<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/tehelka.com\/dissent-or-defiance\/16-2-2\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-325124\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\" wp-image-325124 aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/tehelka.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/16-2-300x221.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"601\" height=\"443\" srcset=\"https:\/\/tehelka.com\/media\/2020\/07\/16-2-300x221.jpg 300w, https:\/\/tehelka.com\/media\/2020\/07\/16-2-80x60.jpg 80w, https:\/\/tehelka.com\/media\/2020\/07\/16-2-696x512.jpg 696w, https:\/\/tehelka.com\/media\/2020\/07\/16-2-571x420.jpg 571w, https:\/\/tehelka.com\/media\/2020\/07\/16-2.jpg 744w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 601px) 100vw, 601px\" \/><\/a>The power tussle in Rajasthan is a close call for Gehlot who is maneuvering for a floor test ever since the crisis broke out. He raised the pitch further after the Speaker sent disqualification notices to 19 rebel MLAs. Although the CM is confident of proving majority in the House, he might hit choppy waters given the way numbers are stacked up.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">The Congress had won 100 seats in the 2018 Assembly polls. The count was brought to 101 by winning the one seat later in Ramgarh by-election. It touched 107 after six MLAs from Bahujan Samaj Party joined the INC. With the notice to 19 legislators, the Congress strength stands at 88 in the Assembly. Gehlot claims to have support of independent MLAs and those from smaller parties, and says he enjoys majority in the 200-member house. But given the 19 MLAs siding with Pilot, the scales are tipped slightly unevenly for him. Should the majority test happens, Gehlot will have to rely greatly on the 13 independents and MLAs of smaller players\u2014Bharatiya Tribal Party and CPI(M) to win. The two parties have two seats each. It is still unclear which side the BTP will swing. It also remains to be seen whether the CPI(M) will vote for Gehlot or abstain itself from the floor test.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">The BJP, on the other hand, has 72 seats of its own, coupled with the support of the three MLAs of Hanuman Beniwal-led Rashtriya Loktantrik Party(RLP). This computes the total to 75. The BJP, if confident of achieving the numbers, will seize the opportunity, going all out to unseat Gehlot.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">Moreover, if the court puts a stay on the disqualification process, proving majority will be a tightrope for Gehlot because the rebels may join hands with the right-wing ideologue, plus the three RLP MLAs. The BJP will then have 94 votes in its favour.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">Courtroom Drama: The disqualification notice served to the dissidents by Speaker Joshi seemed like a crafty move by Gehlot to cut Pilot to size. Instead, the young Congressman crossed the Rubicon and challenged the notices in Rajasthan High Court. The notice was given on the request of Congress chief whip after team Pilot skipped two CLP meetings. The leader, however, argued that a party whip applies only when the session is on.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">Providing temporary relief to Pilot, the court ordered status quo to be maintained in the disqualification case. It meant that the court has barred the Speaker from acting on his disqualification notice dates July 14. The orders came after the court agreed to Pilot\u2019s plea to make Centre a party to the case. The former deputy CM had submitted that Tenth Schedule\u2019s constitutional validity was under challenge and therefore, the Union of India was a necessary party.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">Even as in a previous hearing, the HC asked him to wait for its verdict on July 25, the Rajasthan Speaker sought Supreme Court\u2019s intervention, a move that eventually backfired for Congress.\u00a0 The Speaker had challenged the HC\u2019s order asking him to pause any action against the rebels until its decision on July 25. The sudden move indicated Congress\u2019 worry of losing Rajasthan if rebels scored a legal victory. Its fear did come true as the top court refused to stop the HC from announcing its decision(July 25) on Pilot\u2019s petition challenging the disqualification.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"><strong>What next? <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/tehelka.com\/dissent-or-defiance\/16-5-2\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-325125\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\" wp-image-325125 aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/tehelka.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/16-5-300x228.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"574\" height=\"436\" srcset=\"https:\/\/tehelka.com\/media\/2020\/07\/16-5-300x228.jpg 300w, https:\/\/tehelka.com\/media\/2020\/07\/16-5-80x60.jpg 80w, https:\/\/tehelka.com\/media\/2020\/07\/16-5-554x420.jpg 554w, https:\/\/tehelka.com\/media\/2020\/07\/16-5.jpg 617w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 574px) 100vw, 574px\" \/><\/a>In a hypothetical world, if Pilot indeed crosses over to the BJP, he will not settle for anything less than the CM position, something highly unlikely to be acceptable to Vasundhra Raje. This would also churn the pot of caste cauldron that has long governed the politics of Rajasthan. Pilot belongs to the Gujjar community, which was another major factor against his elevation to the CM\u2019s post as it would have antagonised the powerful Meenas. Gehlot, on the other hand, is a Mali (Backward caste) and is not seen as a threat to Jats, Rajputs and Meenas. The Congress could not have afforded to alienate Jats by appointing a Gujjar CM, especially in a time when the community is irked with the party for failing to give them its due. Some of the tall leaders in state Congress have been Jats including Sis Ram Ola, Ramniwas Mirdha, and Parsaram Maderna.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">So is it paradise lost for Pilot? The faultlines have run deeper this time, beyond redemption. Add to this the smear of phone tapping, public swipes by senior partymen like Randeep Singh Surjewala, it has also widened the rift between him and Gehlot. With an FIR and further allegations of horsetrading, it is not easy going back as number 2 since the mutual distrust has only heightened.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">For Congress, in the meanwhile, it is a wakeup call to clean its backyard. The terrible optics of the Rajasthan potboiler has put additional pressure on the party that is ailing from leadership vacuum for a long time now. Trusted party members are also out in the open about the path of self-destruction the grand old party is on, prophesying an uncertain and dark future if not arrested in time. As former HRD minister Kapil Sibal foreboded last week in his tweet, \u201cWorried for our party. Will we wake up only after the horses have bolted from our stables?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">VOICES FOR PILOT<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 14pt; text-align: justify;\">Sad to see my erstwhile colleague, Sachin Pilot too being sidelined and persecuted by Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot. Shows that talent and capability find little credence in INC.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<strong>\u00a0\u00a0 Jyotiraditya Scindia,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <em>Rajya Sabha MP<\/em><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 14pt; text-align: justify;\">For five years Sachin Pilot gave his blood, tears, toil and sweat for the Congress party between 2013-18. The Congress came back from a wretched 21 seats to 100. We just gave him a performance bonus. We are so meritocratic. We are so transparent.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <strong>Sanjay Jha,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <em>Former national spokesperson, INC.<\/em><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 14pt; text-align: justify;\">Sachin Pilot is not just a colleague but my friend. No one can take away the fact that all these years, he has worked with dedication for the party. Sincerely hope that the situation can still be salvaged. Sad it has come to this.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<strong>\u00a0\u00a0 Jitin Prasada,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"><em>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Former minister of state<\/em><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 14pt; text-align: justify;\">Another friend leaves the party both Sachin and Jyotirajya were colleagues &amp; good friends unfortunately our party has lost 2 stalwart young leaders with great potential. I don\u2019t believe being ambitious is wrong. They have worked hard through the most difficult times.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<strong> Priya Dutt<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"><em>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Former MP<\/em><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 14pt; text-align: justify;\">Jyotiraditya Scindia and Sachin Pilot are very good friends and their leaving the party is hurting the Congress a lot. The treatment meted out to them by the party, there is a sense of despair among the party workers.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <strong>Kuldeep Bishnoi<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"><em>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Haryana Cong leader<\/em><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"><strong><em>\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">ATTACK ON PILOT<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 14pt; text-align: justify;\">Where did you want to reach in such a hurry? Whether you wanted to become the chief minister at 43 and prime minister at 45 by joining the BJP.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <strong>Margaret Alva,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Former Rajasthan governor<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 14pt; text-align: justify;\">We heard Sachin Pilot\u2019s statement on not joining the BJP through the media. If you don\u2019t want to go to the BJP, then immediately reject the hospitality of the Haryana BJP government, free our MLAs from the BJP security ring at two hotels. Stop discussions with the BJP.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <strong>Randeep Surjewala,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Congress leader<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 14pt; text-align: justify;\">The party is intrigued at your actions. You can\u2019t make party a tamasha before the public. I am sure that is not your intention.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<strong> Kapil Sibal,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Veteran Congress leader<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">THE NUMBER GAME<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">Total Assembly Strength\u2014200<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">Congress\u2014107<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">Bharatiya Janata Party(BJP)\u201472<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">Rashtriya Loktantrik Party(RLP)\u2014 3<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">Bharatiya Tribal Party(BTP)\u20142<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">CPI(M)\u20142<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">Rashtriya Lok Dal(RLD)\u20141<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">Independent\u201413<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">Of these, BTP, CPI(M) and RLD are Congress allies<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">BJP ally\u2014RLP<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">UNSPARING <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">GEHLOT<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">\u201cEk chhoti <em>khabar bhi nahin padhi hogi kisine ki (Sachin) Pilot saahab ko Congress pradesh adhyaksh ke pad se hatana chahiye. Hum jaante the ki woh (Sachin Pilot) nikamma hai, nakaara hai, kuch kaam nahin kar raha hai, khali logon ko ladwa raha hai.\u201d<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">Being Handsome, speaking good English is not enough.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">\u201cThis is intolerable and condemnable. Those betraying the party will not be able to show their faces.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">DIGNIFIED <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">PILOT<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">Truth can be rattled but not defeated.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">Not joining BJP. The propaganda is false. Only to <\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">malign me.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">Self-esteem hurt due to notice of treason.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">I am not angry with Ashok Gehlot nor did I demand any special rights or facilities.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">Those saying that I am joining the BJP are trying to tarnish my image. I have not said a single word against the party despite provocations and being stripped of posts.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"><strong>After Rahul Gandhi quit last year as Congress president, Gehlot ji and his friends in AICC ganged up against me. Since then it became a struggle for protecting my self-respect.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">CALL FROM WITHIN FOR CONGRESS <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">INTROSPECTION<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">\u201cWhy is Google a successful company? Because it lets talent to become entrepreneurial within the organisation. Lessons to be learnt here.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <strong>Karti Chidambaram,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"><em>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Congress MP<\/em><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">\u201cThe party would not die if one person leaves. But if everyone leaves who will be there in the party?.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<strong>\u00a0 Sanjay Nirupam,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"><em>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Congress leader<\/em><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">\u201cI passionately believe that our country needs a genuinely liberal party headed by centrist professionals committed to inclusive politics and respectful of India\u2019s pluralism. All who believe in <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">the founding values of the Republic must work to strengthen INC, not undermine it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <strong>Shashi Tharoor,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"><em>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Congress MP<\/em><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">\u201cI think the Congress must not dissipate, must not scatter. There is a limit to which any leadership can accommodate diversity, ambition etc but it\u2019s a two-way thing, right? If people consider themselves I think we should try to keep the party together.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<strong> Salman Khurshid,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif;\"><em>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Senior Congress leader<\/em><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The political storm to hit Rajasthan draws heavily from prototypical themes of a Shakespearean classic as the crisis drives into a cul de sac.\u00a0 Multitude shades of betrayal, appearance and reality, conflict, corruption, deception, order and disorder pervade the snafu, with vaulting ambition being the recurring language device. Only here, it has not yet proven [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":118,"featured_media":325121,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[23,2205],"tags":[1578,236,1478,2562],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tehelka.com\/rest-api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/325090"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tehelka.com\/rest-api\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tehelka.com\/rest-api\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tehelka.com\/rest-api\/wp\/v2\/users\/118"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tehelka.com\/rest-api\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=325090"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/tehelka.com\/rest-api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/325090\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":325127,"href":"https:\/\/tehelka.com\/rest-api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/325090\/revisions\/325127"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tehelka.com\/rest-api\/wp\/v2\/media\/325121"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tehelka.com\/rest-api\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=325090"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tehelka.com\/rest-api\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=325090"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tehelka.com\/rest-api\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=325090"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}