Factionalism In Cong: Rahul Prefers Old Guards For Top Job In MP, Rajasthan

New Delhi: Factionalism was more than apparent during the selection of chief ministers after Assembly polls in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, where Congress ended the BJP’s winning streak.

It was the battle between the experience and the young blood in the grand old party, which went into huddle to find a name acceptable to all. Amid all this, Congress president tried to put up an united front with two Twitter posts.

Rahul picked old guards Kamal Nath for Madhya Pradesh and Ashok Ghelot for Rajasthan. However, it was no mean task.

With factionalism out in the open in the two states, Rahul held marathon meetings with party leaders till late Thursday evening. He was even joined by his mother and former Congress president Sonia Gandhi, as well as sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, at the former’s official residence, 10, Tughlak Road.

According to sources, it took several rounds of meetings over the past 36 hours to bring Sachin Pilot on board as the party could not afford to upset someone like the 67-year-old master strategist ahead of the 2019 national elections.

The 41-year-old leader went down fighting, having failed to convince the party high command with his argument that he had moved to Rajasthan and took charge when the Congress had been reduced to just 20 lawmakers in the 2013 assembly elections.

Pilot will be the deputy CM of Rajasthan and also continue as the state Congress chief.

On Thursday, Jyotiraditya Scindia had made way for Kamal Nath in Madhya Pradesh, but not before an intense race for the top post. The 47-year-old rival had accepted the decision was hinted at by Rahul in a tweet.

A former Union Minister, Nath is known for his organisational skills. However, his appointment drew flak from Akali Dal which alleged he had a role in the 1985 anti-Sikh riots.

Nath, however, described his appointment as the CM as a ‘milestone’.