Congress leader Sachin Pilot sat on a protest fast in Jaipur today, defying a warning last night that his move would be seen as an "anti-party activity".
With a backdrop devoid of the Congress name or symbol, Sachin Pilot sat at the "Shaheed Smarak Sthal" surrounded by supporters, for a one-day fast largely aimed at his party rival Ashok Gehlot, whom he accuses of not acting on allegations against the BJP's Vasundhara Raje.
The absence of any Congress branding on his campaign intensified speculation that Mr Pilot may be spoiling for a confrontation that will drive him out of the party.
Moments after he began his protest, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot posted a video in which he listed his government's welfare policies, attempting to counter Mr Pilot's "corruption crusade" narrative with his own about a "pro-poor, common man's Chief Minister".
"Rajasthan will be No. 1 by 2029," Mr Gehlot said, declaring price rise as an election issue.
The public squabbling between its two top leaders in Rajasthan has hugely embarrassed the Congress as it prepares for elections in one of the few states it rules.
The party has not formally responded to Mr Pilot's defiance. Last evening, it had strongly warned Mr Pilot against the fast.
"Sachin Pilot's day-long fast on Tuesday is against the party interests and is anti-party activity. If there is any issue with his own government, it can be discussed in the party forums instead of in the media and public," the Congress's Rajasthan in-charge Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa said in a statement on Monday, in an effort to deescalate the friction between Mr Pilot, who has been eyeing the Chief Minister's post for a long time, and Mr Gehlot, the current Chief Minister.
"I have been an AICC in-charge for the last five months and Pilot ji has never discussed this issue with me. I am in touch with him and I still appeal for calm dialogue since he is an indisputable asset to the Congress party," Mr Randhawa said.
Mr Pilot's latest confrontation with Ashok Gehlot is seen as his attempt to put pressure on the Congress leadership to settle the issue of who will be the key face of the party in Rajasthan.
"No action was taken (by the Gehlot government) on corruption by the previous Vasundhara Raje government. While in the opposition, we promised an inquiry into the mines scam of Rs 45,000 crore," Mr Pilot told reporters while announcing the fast. He said he wrote two letters last year to Mr Gehlot detailing the issue, but got no response, after which he decided to take a stronger measure now.
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