Hours After Priyanka Gandhi Vowed Help, He Was Sacked

Priyanka Gandhi

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Sachin Pilot was aggrieved at being sacked as Deputy Chief Minister of Rajasthan and state party chief just three hours after a conversation with Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.

Sachin Pilot spoke to Priyanka Gandhi on Tuesday. This was among the many reach outs by the Gandhis after the 42 year old launched his revolt on Sunday against Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot. But these efforts at reconciliation have not stopped the Congress in Rajasthan from taking action against Mr Pilot and other rebel MLAs. Mr Pilot spoke to Priyanka Gandhi two days ago and was given a patient hearing. When he discussed his grievances, Priyanka Gandhi said she would speak to Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi. Three hours later, he was sacked from his Rajasthan posts. Mr Pilot reportedly said, How can the Congress talk of rapprochement when it is acting against me?. He is not sure if he can trust Congress assurances anymore.

Sources quoted the furious leader as saying, On one hand, the Congress talks of doors open and on the other hand I am sacked and disqualification notice sent. I am attacked by Ashok Gehlot.

Priyanka Gandhi reportedly phoned Mr Pilot on Wednesday as well. Yesterday, the rebel spoke to senior Congress leader and former Union Minister P Chidambaram, who said he had advised him to seize the opportunit after the leadership publicly invited him for a meeting. A section of the Congress believes Mr Pilot went too far by taking the party to court yesterday along with 18 rebel MLAs. Team Pilot has challenged disqualification notices which ask them to explain why they defied party orders to attend meetings. Sources close to Mr Pilot questioned how he could attend the MLAs' meets at the Chief Minister's house when he was aggrieved.

They said, Core grievances with Gehlot first needed to be addressed, adding that the Chief Minister had gone rogue and the Congress could no longer control him.