Abhimanyu Poonia stated that if Sachin Pilot had been Chief Minister in 2018, Congress would have easily remained in power in 2023. He also predicted that the party would win more than 150 seats in the 2028 elections under Pilot's leadership. This statement has brought the Gehlot-Pilot dispute back into discussion.
Jaipur: Abhimanyu Poonia has made a statement that has sparked a new debate in the state's politics. Poonia claimed that if Sachin Pilot had been made Chief Minister in 2018, Congress would have returned to power with a significant majority in the 2023 assembly elections as well. Not only that, but he also predicted that the 2028 election would be fought under Pilot's leadership, and Congress would achieve a resounding majority with more than 150 seats.
Gehlot-Pilot Tussle Ongoing Since 2018
In 2018, Congress made a comeback in Rajasthan. At that time, there was a tussle between the Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot camps for the Chief Minister's post. Eventually, the party high command made Gehlot the Chief Minister and Pilot the Deputy Chief Minister. However, this decision left a spark of discontent within the party, which flared up several times in the years to come.
Abhimanyu Poonia's statement has refreshed that old dispute. He said that Sachin Pilot played an important role in the Congress victory in the 2018 elections, but the party made a big mistake by not making him the Chief Minister.
If Pilot Was There, We Would Have Been in Power in 2023 Too
Talking to the media, Poonia said, "If Sachin Pilot had been made the Chief Minister in 2018, Congress would have easily formed the government in the 2023 elections as well, due to his popularity and working style."
He further said that under Pilot's leadership, efforts were made to connect youth, farmers, and every section of society. Pilot strengthened the organization, brought new faces into politics, and gave new energy to the party's image.
Claim of Pilot's Leadership in 2028
Poonia did not stop there. He predicted that Congress would contest the 2028 assembly elections under the leadership of Sachin Pilot, and in that election, the party would win more than 150 seats. According to him, there is deep acceptance of Pilot among the public, and all sections consider him the future of the state.
Emphasis on Pilot's Role
Abhimanyu Poonia said that Pilot's contribution to the Congress victory in 2018 cannot be ignored. He said that while being the state president, Pilot gave जगह to the youth in the party, activated the workers of NSUI and Youth Congress, and struggled on grassroots issues. This was the reason why Congress made a comeback in power in 2018.
Discussion Intensifies in Political Circles
After Poonia's statement, political discussions have intensified both within and outside the Congress. On one hand, Pilot supporters are justifying this statement and calling it the truth of the times to come, while Gehlot supporters are dismissing it as a personal opinion.
Political analysts believe that this statement will further fuel the old debate about leadership within the Congress. Especially after the Congress defeat in 2023, the party is going through a period of introspection, and in such a situation, the Pilot versus Gehlot issue is bound to come into the spotlight again.
