Just days ahead of polling for Rajasthan Assembly Elections 2023, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was seen with Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee chief Govind Singh Dotasra and former deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot. Gandhi, while responding to a question from the reporters said that they are not only being seen together but they are together and will sweep the November 25 assembly elections. The Congress leader said, "We are not only seen together but we are also united. We will be together and Congress will sweep the elections here and win."
Notably, Gandhi's statements came in time as a rift between Gehlot and Pilot has been observed publically. The first time this rift was seen was in 2020 and then it kept resurfacing. Pilot even went on a strike against his own government for the alleged failure to take action against the BJP leaders who were accused of corruption from 2013 to 2018 under the chief ministership of Vasundhara Raje Scindia.
Gehlot expressed his displeasure over this as well and recently his swipe over the Chief Minister's post made headlines. Gehlot in October said, "After Sonia Gandhi became (Congress) president, the first decision she took was to make me the chief minister. I was not the CM candidate but she selected me as the CM...I want to leave the CM post but this post is not leaving me and it won't leave me also."
He subtly suggested with his own example that the best way to become the Chief Minister is by not even running for it.
Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi is expected to address election rallies in Tara Nagar (Churu), Nohar (Hanumangarh) and Sadulshahar (Sriganganagar) later on Thursday. He will also hold a road show in Jaipur on November 19.
These will be Gandhi’s first public meetings after the announcement of elections. In recent weeks, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has addressed public rallies in Niwai (Tonk), Sikrai (Dausa) and Jhunjhunu. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge also addressed meetings in Baran and Jodhpur.