Jaipur (Rajasthan) [India]: Congress national general secretary KC Venugopal on Wednesday dismissed fears of disunity within the ranks saying that all leaders were working together to ensure the party’s return to the hustings in poll-bound Rajasthan.
His remarks come amid frenzied speculation in media circles of infighting among Congress members in Rajasthan. The reports have also spelt fresh fears of the opening of a fresh chapter in the running feud between Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and his former deputy Sachin Pilot.
“A narrative is being peddled that there is no unity within the Congress in Rajasthan. However, I can confirm that our party remains united as before. All our leaders are standing together and fighting with the common aim of ensuring the BJP’s defeat and returning to power in Rajasthan. I believe that the public mood and pulse are in our favour.
Let there be no worries. The Congress is on course on returning to power in Rajasthan,” Venugopal told media.
Meanwhile, in what may be a significant blow to the Congress ahead of the November 25 Assembly elections, Amin Pathan, the former state president of the BJP’s Rajasthan Minority Morcha and Rajasthan Haj Committee, joined the Congress on Wednesday.
The announcement was made in the presence of CM Ashok Gehlot and the Congress in-charge for Rajasthan, Sukjinder Singh Randhawa.
Pathan, who has been associated with the BJP for the last 25 years in various capacities, expressed his disillusionment with the party.
Speaking to media, he praised the work of CM Gehlot, saying, “Ashok Gehlot has worked for farmers, youth, and women. Looking at his work, I decided to join the Congress.”
“For the last 25 years, I have been a worker, councillor, and chairman of various boards of the BJP. However, it increasingly felt like the party was only promoting a few people from Gujarat and a smattering of industrialists.
The BJP no longer represents the ideology and principles that drew me to the party. Now, there are no leaders like Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Bhairon Singh Shekhawat. It feels that the BJP has deviated from its core principles. Hurt at how the BJP drifted from its ideology, I decided to tender my resignation from the party.
Ashok Gehlot has worked for farmers, youth, and women. Looking at his work, I decided to join the Congress,” Pathan told media.
The counting of votes for the 200-member Rajasthan Assembly is scheduled for December 3.
In the 2018 assembly elections, the Congress won 99 seats, while the BJP had to settle for 73 seats in the 200-member House.
Gehlot eventually took the oath as CM with the support of BSP MLAs and Independents.
