Pilot smokes peace pipe after meet with Gandhis, panel to hear his grievances

New Delhi: The Congress on Monday decided to constitute a three-member committee to look into the grievances of Sachin Pilot and the rebel MLAs in Rajasthan after the Tonk MLA met Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, signalling a thaw in ties ahead of the crucial Assembly session on August 14.

Confirming the meeting between Pilot and Rahul Gandhi, KC Venugopal, AICC organisation secretary, said Pilot had committed to work in the interest of the party and the Congress government in Rajasthan. Pilot's rebellion with 18 other MLAs loyal to him has left the Ashok Gehlot-led government teetering on the edge.

"Sachin Pilot has met with former Congress president Rahul Gandhi and expressed his grievances in detail. They have had a frank, open and conclusive discussion," he said.

"Congress president Sonia Gandhi has decided that the AICC will constitute a three-member committee to address the issues raised by Sachin Pilot and the aggrieved MLA and arrive at an appropriate resolution thereof," Venugopal further said.

"I had maintained from Day One that I would never join the BJP. I stand vindicated today," Pilot said.

He further added: "I don't crave for any post, the party has given position and can take it back."

The talks with the Gandhis, which lasted for about two-three hours, were described as "a meeting of minds" by Team Pilot.

It is unclear whether Pilot, who was sacked from his two posts in Rajasthan, will be reinstated as part of the 'ghar-wapsi' formula. Congress sources indicated he may be "adjusted outside Rajasthan".

Removing Gehlot as Chief Minister, which Pilot has demanded all along, is also "out of the question", leaders said.

The development comes days after Gehlot appeared to make a conciliatory move, saying that he would welcome back the rebel Congress MLAs if the party leadership "forgives them".

Moreover, the Gehlot government also withdrew the sedition charge from three FIRs lodged by the Special Operations Group (SOG) of Rajasthan Police in connection with the alleged attempt to topple his government. A key grouse of Pilot that triggered the rebellion was the FIRs being filed by SOG under the sedition charge.

Following the rebellion by Pilot, Congress removed him as Deputy Chief Minister and state PCC chief. The party also cracked the whip on Pilot's loyalists — Vishvendra Singh and Ramesh Meena — who were removed from the state Cabinet and the state presidents of the Youth Congress and Seva Dal were replaced. The decision was announced after Pilot and his MLAs skipped two consecutive Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meetings in Jaipur last month.

On Sunday, Chief Minister Gehlot asked party legislators to show their unity on the floor of the House. Addressing a Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting at a resort in Jaisalmer, he said: "We are all democracy warriors. We are going to win this war and also win the (Assembly) election after three-and-a-half years."

"The unity which you have shown till now, the same unity you have to show in the House," Gehlot said.

The Congress had a total of 107 MLAs in the 200-member Rajasthan Assembly. This includes six MLAs who were previously with the BSP.