Unlike TS Singh Deo, Sachin Pilot may face loyalty hurdle

New Delhi: Unlike Chhattisgarh deputy chief minister TS Singh Deo, Rajasthan Congress leader Sachin Pilot may face the loyalty hurdle in his rehabilitation.

Like Pilot in Rajasthan, Deo was among the top contenders for the chief minister's post in Chhattisgarh following the party's victory in the 2018 state polls. However, the Congress high command then ruled in favour of veteran Ashok Gehlot in Rajasthan and Bhupesh Baghel in Chhattisgarh.

Deo repeatedly staked claim to the post with his loyalists suggesting that the Congress leadership had promised 2.5 years each to him and Baghel but he never made any attempt to destabilise his own party's government. He has also now contradicted the claim of the rotational chief ministership formula.

On the other hand, Pilot led a revolt against Gehlot, nearly bringing down the Congress government in July 2020. It was due to Gehlot's personal efforts that the Congress government could be saved.

Pilot also led a hunger strike against the Gehlot government for its inaction to act against the alleged irregularities committed by the previous BJP government.

Gehlot had once dubbed Pilot a traitor and also advised him to return the money that he claimed was given to the rebel legislators by Union Home Minister Amit Shah to topple his government.

The Congress high command has repeatedly tried to resolve the crisis in Rajasthan but the irreconcilable differences between Gehlot and Pilot have stalled all such efforts.

Gehlot has been opposing any attempt to rehabilitate Pilot, arguing that he is the first state Congress president and the deputy chief minister who tried to dislodge his own government. He has also accused Pilot of being disloyal and untrustworthy.

Baghel too had opposed Deo's elevation and herded his loyal legislators to Delhi whenever there was a talk of a change of guard in Chhattisgarh. But Deo was never accused of being disloyal to the party.

Baghel finally agreed to a truce after he was categorically told by the Congress leadership that the ongoing feud was bound to hurt the prospects of the party in the upcoming assembly elections.

Chhattisgarh along with Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana and Mizoram will go to polls in November-December this year.

It remains to be seen if Gehlot too decides to bury the hatchet with Pilot and agrees to his rehabilitation ahead of the polls.