A PUZZLING PATCH-UP

It is an anti-climax for Sachin Pilot's supporters. In a surprise turn of events, the rebel Congress leader from Rajasthan has backed down from his long confrontation with his arch nemesis, chief minister Ashok Gehlot. Until as early as May, Pilot had charged up his supporters with his Ajmer-Jaipur yatra against the Gehlot regime. He had even threatened to launch a state-wide agitation if his demands were not met.

- Rohit Parihar

Cut to now. Pilot is a changed man. "Gehlot is trying to take everyone along," he said, just days after Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, senior leader Rahul Gandhi and general secretary K.C. Venugopal held a meeting of about 30 leaders from Rajasthan in Delhi on July 6. Pilot also said, "Gehlot is elder to me both in experience and age"-exactly what he had told INDIA TODAY a week before his famous July 2020 revolt to pull down the Gehlot government. In the same breath, he had also described Gehlot as "my leader," expecting prominence in official publicity and a say in decisions as second in command to the chief minister.

How will it go this time? Earlier, he was prone to dressing up reported snubs in claims of having turned down offers such as executive president or general secretary in-charge of Gujarat elections, which his rivals would describe as bluffs. In a big departure from that tack, this time he said he would abide by whatever the party offers him. "It is good he has reposed faith in the high command to accept whatever task they assign him," Gehlot tells INDIA TODAY.