Watch: Sachin Pilot Returns Fire After Ashok Gehlot's "Big Corona" Jeer

The rancour between the Congress's two top leaders in Rajasthan is deepening in an election year. In a video that is viral, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot appears to refer to Sachin Pilot as the coronavirus.

Sachin Pilot, in response, said today at a rally: "It is important to maintain restraint in politics. If you give respect, you will get it."

In the video that emerged yesterday, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said: "I have resumed meetings. Earlier there was corona ...A big corona also entered our party." It isn't clear whether he meant for the remarks to come out in public.

Though the Chief Minister didn't take names, it was evident that he was targeting his former deputy, whom he has previously called "gaddar (traitor)" and "nikamma (worthless)".

In 2020, the year Covid erupted worldwide, Sachin Pilot launched his revolt against the Chief Minister, camping for days near Delhi until the Gandhis met him.  

Mr Pilot didn't name Mr Gehlot either when he retaliated at a rally.

"I have never used words for my opponents that I wouldn't want to hear for myself. One should control one's tongue. It is easy to hurl gaali-galauj (abuse), but it is hard to take back words once spoken. I have never made personal attacks. If you give respect, you will get it," Mr Pilot said.

The sparring exposes the Congress as a big mess just before polls in one of the few states it rules, despite the unity on display when Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra passed through Rajasthan. 

Making it clear that a patch-up is nowhere in sight, Mr Pilot launched a solo campaign for the Rajasthan polls soon after the yatra. So far, the campaign has only highlighted the feud - not the best look for a party about to seek re-election.

Their ties plumbed new depths after Mr Gehlot, in an interview to NDTV in November, called his former deputy a "gaddar (traitor)" and said he would not be chief minister.

"A gaddar (traitor) cannot be Chief Minister. The High Command cannot make Sachin Pilot the Chief Minister... a man who doesn't have 10 MLAs. Who revolted. He betrayed the party, (he) is a traitor," Mr Gehlot had said.

The Gehlot-Pilot feud first surfaced when both competed for the Chief Minister's job after the Congress's Rajasthan victory in 2018. Though Mr Pilot agreed to play second fiddle to the veteran, he revolted two years later, demanding a better share in power.

But the rebellion fizzled out as 100-plus MLAs chose to stay with Mr Gehlot. At no point has Mr Pilot been able to produce more than 20 MLAs on his side, making it tougher for the party to attempt a detente.  

In September, when Mr Gehlot was considered by the Congress for the party president's post, nearly 80 MLAs loyal to him revolted over reports that Mr Pilot would replace him as Rajasthan Chief Minister. A dozen supported Mr Pilot.

Mr Gehlot stayed in Rajasthan and the Congress opted for Mallikarjun Kharge as Sonia Gandhi's successor.