A FRAGILE PEACE

Ridden with internal dissent, with sharp words exchanged between grandees at regular intervals and enough drama to fill the politics pages of national dailies for days on end, the Rajasthan Congress is among the most keenly watched political units in India.

- Rohit Parihar

It’s an open question if there are more fireworks in store for later this month after Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra completes its journey through the state, and coincidentally the party too celebrates its fourth year in power. To perhaps obviate such a possibility, AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge on December 5 appointed Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, ex-deputy chief minister of Punjab, as in-charge of Rajasthan, replacing Ajay Maken, who had offered to quit last month. “The situation in Rajasthan is like that in Punjab; we lost there due to infighting,” Randhawa told mediapersons after assuming charge on December 6.

Maken had wanted the high command to act against three Rajasthan Congress leaders he had accused of instigating party MLAs to not attend the legislative party meeting on September 25 at Jaipur. That meet had a tricky agenda: to discuss chief minister Ashok Gehlot’s replacement as he moved to New Delhi in the role of party chief, as the plan then was. Gehlot had offered to quit in favour of any suitable candidate—except bete noire Sachin Pilot—who could assure victory in the assembly polls due in December 2023. But his camp had sensed the wind. The 92 MLAs, all Gehlot loyalists, holed up at urban development and housing minister Shanti Kumar Dhariwal’s residence instead of turning up for the meet, and submitted their resignations to the assembly speaker. Gehlot won that round, preferring to retain Jaipur over having a go at AICC presidency.