Former Congress leader Acharya Pramod Krishnam on Monday, 8 June launched a scathing attack on Rahul Gandhi, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, alleging that the Congress high command had never genuinely intended to install Sachin Pilot as Chief Minister of Rajasthan and was directly responsible for the prolonged factional conflict within the party in the state.

Background: The Gehlot-Pilot Power Struggle

Krishnam's remarks came amid renewed debate over the long-running rivalry between senior Congress leaders Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot. The dispute resurfaced after Gehlot recently stated that the political developments of 25 September 2022 were not a rebellion against the Congress high command, but rather a rift among party legislators over the prospect of Pilot replacing him as Chief Minister. Gehlot also maintained that a 'big conspiracy' had prevented him from assuming the Congress president's post, now held by Mallikarjun Kharge.

Krishnam's Core Allegation

Speaking to reporters in Ghaziabad, Krishnam argued that the roots of the Rajasthan conflict lay not in Jaipur but in decisions taken by the party leadership in Delhi. 'Sachin Pilot has become a victim of a conspiracy. The root of the conflict is not Ashok Gehlot or any other leader; the real root of the dispute is in Delhi. In fact, Rahul Gandhi himself is at the centre of this situation,' he said.

He drew a parallel with Punjab, alleging a pattern of manufactured internal conflicts. 'Just like in Punjab, where Amarinder Singh was sidelined through Navjot Singh Sidhu, and later Sidhu was sidelined through Charanjit Singh Channi, similarly, conflicts are created, and then they step back,' Krishnam said. He further alleged that Pilot was never seriously considered for the top post, and that Gehlot was deliberately projected as the party's primary face in Rajasthan. 'Sachin Pilot was not meant to be made Chief Minister; that is why Ashok Gehlot was made the face. Ashok Gehlot is a very power-hungry person,' he added.

Criticism of Congress Leadership

Krishnam went on to question why disciplinary action was not taken against Gehlot despite his public differences with the party leadership during the Rajasthan political crisis. 'When Siddaramaiah can be removed, Amarinder Singh can be removed, then why not Ashok Gehlot?' he asked. He further alleged that Rahul Gandhi and his close associates had deliberately blocked Pilot's elevation. 'The Congress high command does not want to see Sachin Pilot as Chief Minister of Rajasthan, because people have hopes from him. When people see hope in any leader, Rahul Gandhi and his team do not tolerate that person,' he said, adding that the party faced an existential crisis under the current leadership.

Remarks on the INDIA Bloc and Opposition Unity

Krishnam also took aim at the INDIA Bloc, suggesting that opposition parties were growing increasingly sceptical of Rahul Gandhi's effectiveness as a coalition leader. He claimed that the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC), led by Mamata Banerjee, was exploring alignment with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) rather than the Congress. 'A perception has developed within the Opposition that it is impossible to take on the BJP under Rahul Gandhi's leadership,' he said, calling for Gandhi's removal as Leader of Opposition.

Ram Mandir Funds and Akhilesh Yadav

Reacting to a recent social media post by Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav alleging irregularities in Ram Mandir donation funds, Krishnam expressed distrust of Yadav while simultaneously urging Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah to investigate the claims. 'Akhilesh Yadav and his party cannot be trusted because they are the same people who wanted to create obstacles in the path of the Ram Mandir,' he said. He nonetheless added that if a former Chief Minister was raising such concerns, 'it needs to be taken seriously' and called for a thorough probe to establish the facts.

Krishnam's remarks underscore the deepening intra-party fault lines within Congress ahead of future state elections, with the Gehlot-Pilot rivalry continuing to shadow the party's organisational credibility in Rajasthan.