The Congress leadership is trying hard to hammer out a formula to resolve the bitter tussle between Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot even as it asserted that the young leader was not quitting the party to float a separate outfit. Sources said Pilot and AICC general secretary (organisation) K C Venugopal had a meeting on Thursday, and the latter rubbished the speculation that the former deputy CM was toying with the idea of leaving the party. Venugopal had spoken to Pilot at least thrice since May 29 when the party leadership managed to make Pilot and Gehlot sit together to thrash out differences. That meeting ended without the party being able to announce a peace formula. While Pilot has not said anything so far on reports that he might announce a new party in the poll-bound state, Venugopal on Friday said Pilot was not leaving the Congress. “I don't think so. These are all rumours,” Venugopal told reporters when asked about such reports. “In my knowledge, there is no such movement in Rajasthan,” he added. He said he has spoken to Pilot “two-three times” after the May 29 meeting. “Don't worry, we will fight unitedly. Rajasthan Congress will be together. Don't believe these rumours,” he added. Sources said the high command will draw up a formula in the next three-four days to resolve the present tussle which began after Pilot raised three demands and gave the Gehlot government 15 days to act on them. Pilot, the former Deputy CM is insisting that Gehlot accept all his demands – a high-level inquiry into alleged corruption cases against the previous Vasundhara Raje government, disbanding of the Rajasthan Public Service Commission (which has seen leakage of papers in several exams), its reconstitution via a new law, and compensation for students who have suffered due to the question paper leaks. The Gehlot side believes that acceptance of these demands would show his government in a bad light just months before the elections. Pilot too is coming under pressure from his supporters as his demands see no forward movement, and the 15-day deadline he had set for the Congress government expiring. The Congress Central leadership wants a permanent solution to the tussle and was even ready to hand over the reins of the organisation in Rajasthan to Pilot. He, however, is said to be not keen on returning as the state Congress president, a post he had held from 2014 to 2020. The Gehlot camp too is averse to the idea of making Pilot the PCC president in an election year.
