published by, Kavya Mishra
Last Update: May 12, 2023, 23:35 IST
Randhawa made the remarks after a meeting with state unit chief Govind Singh Dotasara. (Image: Twitter)
The five-day yatra is mounting pressure on the Congress leadership ahead of the Rajasthan assembly elections later this year as the party faces anti-incumbency wave besides infighting in the state unit.
Congress’ Rajasthan in-charge Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa on Friday said Sachin Pilot’s ‘Jan Sangharsh Yatra’ is a “personal” one and the party is “keeping a watch on it”.
He said all issues would be discussed after Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge returns from Karnataka.
Randhawa made the remarks after a meeting with state unit chief Govind Singh Dotasara and co-in-charge Qazis Muhammad Nizamuddin, Amrita Dhawan and Virender Rathod at the party’s Gurdwara Rakab Ganj Road office where Pilot’s march, organizational issues and preparations were on. The assembly elections to be held this year were discussed.
He said, ‘I met three secretaries associated with me here and the head of the Pradesh Congress Committee. This was our first meeting as we were busy with Karnataka elections and Jalandhar bypolls. Randhawa told reporters after the meeting, the strength of the organization and appointments for frontal organizations in the state were discussed.
Asked about Pilot’s visit, he said, “It is his visit, he is taking out his visit, we are keeping an eye on him and when Kharge ji comes back from Karnataka, all issues will be discussed.” Asked whether action would be taken against Pilot, Randhawa said, “I have said in one line (that) we are keeping an eye on it. I will convey my views to the Congress president.” Pilot on Thursday began a 125-km ‘Jan Sangharsh Yatra’ from Ajmer to Jaipur to raise issues of corruption during the previous BJP government led by Vasundhara Raje and paper leak in government recruitment examinations.
He has said that his march is not against anyone but on the issue of corruption. Pilot claimed that he has been writing letters to Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot for one and a half years for action on corruption but nothing is happening.
The five-day visit comes as pressure mounts on the Congress leadership ahead of the Rajasthan assembly elections later this year, with the party facing anti-incumbency wave besides infighting in the state unit.
Since the formation of the Congress government in the state in 2018, there has been a tussle between Pilot and Gehlot over power. In 2020, Pilot led an unsuccessful rebellion against the Gehlot government, following which he was removed from the posts of the party’s state unit president and deputy chief minister. ,
The former Rajasthan deputy chief minister had last month observed a day-long fast over Gehlot’s “inaction” over alleged corruption during the Raje government, defying a party warning.
(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed)