Beyond the Manesar shadow: Ashok Gehlot’s fresh salvo at Sachin Pilot

The former Rajasthan chief minister has broken his silence on past political crises, airing deep-seated grievances about a lack of acknowledgment for his role in Sachin Pilot’s early rise.

The long-simmering friction within the Rajasthan Congress has bubbled to the surface again. Former chief minister Ashok Gehlot, speaking in Jaipur, has publicly revived his grievances against Sachin Pilot, suggesting that their strained relationship stems from a simple, unfulfilled expectation: gratitude. Gehlot claims he was instrumental in facilitating Pilot’s appointment as a Union minister, a favor he feels was never acknowledged by the younger leader. "He knows I helped him. It is hurtful to me," Gehlot remarked, adding that a public nod from Pilot would have fundamentally altered the trajectory of their mutual distrust.

The 'conspiracy' of 2022

Beyond personal bitterness, Gehlot is attempting to rewrite the narrative of the September 2022 Rajasthan crisis. For years, the optics of that period suggested a rebellion by MLAs loyal to Gehlot against the Congress high command. Gehlot dismisses this entirely. He maintains that the protest was never directed at the party leadership, but was instead an expression of the rank-and-file’s deep-seated opposition to the potential elevation of Pilot as chief minister following the "Manesar episode" of 2020.

Gehlot framed the 2022 incident as a "big conspiracy" that unfairly tarnished his reputation. He argues that the sudden arrival of central observers and the subsequent "tamasha" (spectacle) were engineered to paint him as a defiant leader clinging to power, when in reality, he claims he was prepared to accept the Congress presidency if offered by Sonia Gandhi.

A call to 'forget and forgive'

Despite his sharp words, the veteran leader insists he bears no personal animosity toward Pilot, whom he describes as someone he has known since childhood. Gehlot’s public stance is one of pragmatic fatigue. He has urged his supporters on social media to stop targeting the younger leader, acknowledging that the persistent infighting has caused significant damage. He maintains that he has repeatedly told Pilot to "forget Manesar" and move on, suggesting that the lingering tension is fueled by those advising the former deputy chief minister.

Why it matters: The bigger picture

This public airing of grievances comes at a sensitive time for the Rajasthan Congress, as the party navigates a leadership vacuum and prepares for future electoral cycles. By publicly linking Pilot’s political ascent to his own mentorship, Gehlot is asserting his seniority and framing his past actions as protective of the party’s stability. However, the timing of these remarks—amidst speculation regarding Pilot’s potential return to a state-level leadership role—suggests a calculated move to define the terms of any future reconciliation. For the party, the challenge remains: can the "forget and forgive" mantra hold, or has the cycle of accusations permanently fractured the state unit’s ability to present a united front?