Priyanka as crisis manager in Rajasthan

Going by media reports, tapes and statements, it is increasingly becoming evident that archrivals Sachin Pilot and Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot had sought tacit support from elements within the BJP. In other words, they crossed the lakshmanrekha of party discipline, ethics and morality.

This premise makes a case for the Gandhis, particularly Priyanka, to come out and act as a ‘peace-maker’. While Sachin is accused of trying to topple the Gehlot regime in Rajasthan like Jyotiraditya Scindia, the CM is said to have sought help from former BJP Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje Scindia to keep his flock together.

Unlike Rahul and Sonia Gandhi, who have, individually and collectively been acting as head of the Congress parivar, Priyanka has lesser compulsion to accord primacy to party organisation and hierarchy. If she manages to prevent a split in the party, Priyanka can atone for the mistakes she made during the 2019 Lok Sabha polls when her arrival on the political scene was dubbed a ‘gamechanger’ and a brahmastra by her party colleagues and a section of the media.

In order to break the Rajasthan impasse, Priyanka should ensure some drastic measure like recalling Gehlot and Sachin Pilot from state politics or forcing Gehlot to see reason for not talking to his deputy for 18 long months. Subject to Pilot and Gehlot admitting their follies (perhaps not in equal measure), Priyanka can recommend one leader for the state and the other for the AICC secretariat where a major reshuffle is on the cards by August 10, when Sonia Gandhi is likely to pave the way for her successor, Rahul Gandhi.

It would be a bitter medicine but anyone slightly aware of the goings-on would vouch that the loyalty of the MLAs is primarily to the Congress and to the Gandhis than the regional satraps. In this sense, the ceremonial headcount conducted during the crowning of Gehlot, Bhupesh Baghel and Kamal Nath was as farcical as the selection of Ajit Jogi as the Chhattisgarh CM in 2000. The key thing to remember is that the Congress MLAs are willing to accept Gehlot and Nath (with large pockets of support from the newly elected MLAs) and the likes of Jogi, Ashok and Prithviraj Chavan, AK Antony etc who did not enjoy majority support. Prospects of revolt against the Congress high command or a 10, Janpath nominee is rare.

For the uninitiated, it was a bizarre spectacle that an agitated Pilot sulked and camped in New Delhi after being served a notice by the Special Operations Group (SOG) of the Rajasthan Police in a case for an alleged bid to topple the Gehlot government, but could not meet even a single Congress leader of consequence.

For over a week now, as per reports, there have been 30-odd phone calls made or received by Pilot in conversation with Rahul, Priyanka Gandhi, Ahmed Patel, Ghulam Nabi Azad, P Chidambaram and others. If the two sides were merely going through the motions, it makes the entire episode more farcical and self-destructive.

Without going into the merits of allegations against Pilot and Gehlot’s Machiavellian tricks, the Congress central leadership’s inability to comprehend the situation and act decisively has been glaring. Gehlot did not want Pilot as his deputy; the state party unit chief was not eager to become the Deputy CM. But both were pushed into it by the Gandhis with assurances that were not followed or kept.

For the Congress, already fighting a grim battle for survival, the developments could not have come at a worse time. 10, Janpath was working on a succession plan. As the interim AICC president, Sonia Gandhi was keen not to stay in office beyond a year, which she would be completing on August 10.

Going by the near consensus that Rahul should succeed Sonia, there is sudden need for a quick response and grievance redressal mechanism in the party. Rahul’s interpersonal and social skills have often been questioned within the Congress parivar. The Congress had to deny news reports that quoted Rahul speaking recently at an NSUI meeting where he reportedly said that anyone was free to quit the party.

Since 2004, when Rahul joined the Congress, he has built a reputation of being aloof towards party leaders. In January 2014, when he took over as the AICC vice-president, Rahul clearly stated at Jaipur that he would be ‘judging them all’. But for a party facing electoral setbacks, dissent and possible defections, the need of the hour is to keep the regional satraps in good humour and tolerate discord.

Against this backdrop, there is no dearth of party leaders who want Priyanka Gandhi to play a more active role outside Uttar Pradesh as and when Rahul returns as full-time Congress president. Priyanka is known to influence Rahul and enjoys excellent rapport with a range of party leaders across the country.

The Congress has a history of Gandhis acting in pairs. In 1959, Indira became the party chief, much to the surprise of many in the party when father Nehru was the PM. Nehru’s detractors viewed it unfavourably, but a large section of the leaders of that era had felt that Indira had earned her spurs. As AICC chief, she tackled the Kerala crisis and recommended the creation of Maharashtra and Gujarat to end the linguistic dispute. When her term ended in 1960, the CWC requested her to continue, but she declined. Sanjay Gandhi did not opt for a formal post except for a stint as AICC general secretary but was considered on a par with Indira in organisational and administrative matters. Rajiv became the AICC general secretary in 1983 when Indira was the PM. Sonia’s functional relationship with Rahul between 2006-17 saw a clear demarcation of work.

A bigger role for Priyanka would strengthen Rahul and reduce the prospects of a Pilot or Scindia-like rebellion. While protracted legal battle has come into play between Pilot and Gehlot, some Congress well-wishers want Priyanka to step in, walk up to Sachin Pilot and bring him back to the fold instead of letting him go the Jaganmohan Reddy or Mamata Banerjee way. As Congress interim chief, Sonia’s hands may be tied and Rahul, with an eye on the AICC chief’s post, may be reluctant to play ball. But Priyanka has a chance to offer an ‘out of the box’ solution and reinforce what is expected from her since April 2019.