Rajasthan Elections 2023: Amid speculations about infighting among Congress members in Rajasthan, party leader Rahul Gandhi was seen in Jaipur alongside Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and Congress leader Sachin Pilot, stating, “We are not only seen together but we are also united.” The Congress MP was received by the two Rajasthan leaders upon his arrival in Jaipur, Rajasthan.

“We are not only seen together but we are also together, and Congress will sweep the elections here and win,” Rahul told reporters.

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Before heading to Tara Nagar in Churu for a rally, he reiterated that the party’s leaders are united and will remain so. This visit coincided with the campaigning on November 15, ahead of the state polls scheduled for November 25.

On Wednesday, KC Venugopal, Congress national general secretary, dismissed speculations of disunity within the ranks, stating that all were working together to ensure the party’s return to power in poll-bound Rajasthan.

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“A narrative is being peddled that there is no unity within the Congress in Rajasthan. However, I can confirm that our party remains united as before. All our leaders are standing together and fighting with the common aim of ensuring the BJP’s defeat and returning to power in Rajasthan. I believe that the public mood and pulse are in our favor. Let there be no worries. The Congress is on course on returning to power in Rajasthan”, Venugopal told ANI.

Meanwhile, on November 15, Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot also underscored Rahul’s intention. “Together we are winning again,” he posted on X. The post included a picture of Ashok Gehlot sitting in a meeting with Congress General Secretary in charge of Rajasthan Sukhjinder Randhawa and senior Rajasthan Congress leaders Jitender Singh and Sachin Pilot. The post was reshared by Sachin Pilot on his timeline.

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What is speculation all about?

Rahul Gandhi’s remarks assume significance amidst speculation regarding a potential reconciliation between the three of them. In 2020, Pilot, then Deputy Chief Minister, along with 18 Congress MLAs loyal to him, staged a revolt against Gehlot.

Consequently, Pilot was removed from his position as the state Congress president. Since the crisis, relations between the two leaders have remained strained.

Earlier this year, Pilot led a protest against the Gehlot government, urging action against alleged corruption during the previous BJP administration led by Vasundhara Raje. Gehlot took repeated jabs at Pilot for his actions, labelling him ‘nikamma’ (useless).

In a recent interview with India Today TV, Pilot expressed his reluctance to dwell on past events when discussing his strained relationship with Gehlot.”

When asked if everything was fine between him and Gehlot, Pilot said, “I have said that I always avoid using such language. The language was not appropriate. Dignity should be maintained in public communication. We should be very careful about what we say.”

“I do not want to focus on what happened between us in the past. It is our aim and responsibility to work together for the party and we will work together,” he further said.

Rajasthan is gearing up for assembly polls on November 25, with the vote count scheduled for December 3.

In 2013, BJP won 163 seats in the legislative Assembly elections in the state. Later in 2018 polls, the Congress won 99 seats, while the BJP won 73 seats in the 200-member House. Gehlot eventually took the oath as CM with the support of BSP MLAs and Independents.

(With Inputs from Agencies)