Rajasthan
Sachin Pilot is Congress’s asset, Priyanka Gandhi in touch with him: Ajay Maken | Jaipur News
JAIPUR: AICC general secretary in-charge of Rajasthan Ajay Maken told reporters in New Delhi on Friday that the Congress central leadership was in regular touch with former deputy chief Sachin Pilot. Maken described Pilot as Congress’s asset and star campaigner.
Maken said it was impossible that Pilot would seek an appointment with any of the top leaders and he won’t get it.
The AICC in-charge of the state was attempting to downplay reports that the Congress central leadership ignored Pilot during the latter’s five-day stay in Delhi amid his differences with chief minister Ashok Gehlot resurfacing. “Priyanka Gandhi is not even in Delhi for the past 10 days, so she could not have met Pilot, but is in communication with him. KC Venugopal and I have regularly spoken to him,” Maken said.
On cabinet expansion and reshuffle, Maken said, “There are nine vacancies (in the council of ministers) in Rajasthan, besides several political appointments (in boards and corporations). Work is in progress on filling these. I am in touch with Gehlot, Pilot, CP Joshi, many cabinet ministers and leaders. We will appoint good people.”
Will the expansion be soon? Maken replied, “We are in talks with all. You all know there was a political crisis in Rajasthan last year. Our efforts will be to include all sections, considering caste and regional equations as well as seniority and Congress future.”
He had a word of caution for legislators issuing statements bringing out differences between Pilot and Gehlot. Maken said, “All MLAs should understand that Congress was born out of renouncement and sacrifice. Whenever cabinet expansion or political appointments are made, the Congress president will bear in mind who has been a disciplined soldier of the party. So, I request all not to raise issues in public but to speak to me or to the party state president.”
Minutes after Maken’s statement, however, MLA Ved Prakash Solanki once again told media in Jaipur that the Gehlot-government was ignoring the SC/ST.
Solanki repeated his charges that phones of some legislators were being tapped. Other states’ SC/ST women married in Rajasthan present at Solanki’s residence told reporters that they were unable to join jobs despite being selected because their caste certificates were not being issued.
Maken said it was impossible that Pilot would seek an appointment with any of the top leaders and he won’t get it.
The AICC in-charge of the state was attempting to downplay reports that the Congress central leadership ignored Pilot during the latter’s five-day stay in Delhi amid his differences with chief minister Ashok Gehlot resurfacing. “Priyanka Gandhi is not even in Delhi for the past 10 days, so she could not have met Pilot, but is in communication with him. KC Venugopal and I have regularly spoken to him,” Maken said.
On cabinet expansion and reshuffle, Maken said, “There are nine vacancies (in the council of ministers) in Rajasthan, besides several political appointments (in boards and corporations). Work is in progress on filling these. I am in touch with Gehlot, Pilot, CP Joshi, many cabinet ministers and leaders. We will appoint good people.”
Will the expansion be soon? Maken replied, “We are in talks with all. You all know there was a political crisis in Rajasthan last year. Our efforts will be to include all sections, considering caste and regional equations as well as seniority and Congress future.”
He had a word of caution for legislators issuing statements bringing out differences between Pilot and Gehlot. Maken said, “All MLAs should understand that Congress was born out of renouncement and sacrifice. Whenever cabinet expansion or political appointments are made, the Congress president will bear in mind who has been a disciplined soldier of the party. So, I request all not to raise issues in public but to speak to me or to the party state president.”
Minutes after Maken’s statement, however, MLA Ved Prakash Solanki once again told media in Jaipur that the Gehlot-government was ignoring the SC/ST.
Solanki repeated his charges that phones of some legislators were being tapped. Other states’ SC/ST women married in Rajasthan present at Solanki’s residence told reporters that they were unable to join jobs despite being selected because their caste certificates were not being issued.
