Bhupesh Baghel Backs His Rajasthan Counterpart Hours After Sachin Pilot Revives War With Gehlot

Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel said on Sunday that Rajasthan CM is a very sorted leader, and many such hurdles have come in the past as well, and he feels that Gehlot will sort this out.

The internal battle between the Congress party's two top political leaders has resurfaced just months before elections in Rajasthan. Hours after Sachin Pilot launched a new attack on Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot, Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel backed him up on Sunday, saying that Gehlot is a very sorted leader, and many such hurdles have come in the past as well, and he believes Gehlot will sort this out, ANI reported. 

On Sunday, party leader Sachin Pilot launched a new attack on his opponent, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, announcing a one-day fast against corruption on Tuesday. The 45-year-old leader has demanded that the Gehlot administration investigate the alleged corruption of the previous BJP administration led by Vasundhara Raje.

Pilot stated that it was critical to reassure people that the Congress government was following through on its statements and promises made prior to the 2018 assembly elections. He claimed that the government had done nothing to combat the excise mafia, illegal mining, land encroachment, and the Lalit Modi affidavit case.

"With six to seven months until the elections, opponents can create the impression of collusion. As a result, action must be taken soon so that Congress employees believe there is no difference between our words and actions," he was quoted by PTI. 

Pilot played old videos of Gehlot accusing Raje of corruption and misrule and questioned why no investigation or inquiry had been launched into these allegations. He claimed that the Congress government had evidence against the previous BJP administration but had not acted on it.

"We cannot go into the elections with unfulfilled promises. We have proof. We should have taken action. We should look into it. We are about to hold elections. The Model Code of Conduct will be implemented soon. We have to answer to the people," Pilot said.

According to a statement issued by Congress, its government has implemented numerous schemes that have benefited people, and it will seek a renewed mandate based on its achievements as well as the organisation's collective efforts.

Pilot's all-out attack on his own party's government was the latest in a long-running feud between him and Gehlot that erupted after Rajasthan's last elections. When the Congress won Rajasthan in 2018, the party's leadership reportedly told Pilot that he would share the chief ministership with Gehlot, his senior, for the first half of the five-year term. That never happened.