Schism widens as Pilot opens new front

Jaipur: Ahead of the assembly elections in Rajasthan, former deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot on Sunday opened a new front, announcing a day-long fast to seek action from his government over alleged corruption during the BJP rule in the State.

The development again brings into open the power tussle in the Congress between the Pilot and the Gehlot factions in the state, putting pressure on the central leadership to resolve it before the year-end polls.

“No action was taken (by the Gehlot government) on corruption by the previous Vasundhara Raje government. While in opposition, we had promised that an inquiry would be conducted in the mines scam of Rs 45,000 crore,” Pilot said at a press conference at his residence here, announcing a hunger strike on Tuesday.

“With six-seven months left for the elections, the opponents can spread an illusion that there is some collusion. Therefore, action will have to be taken soon so that the Congress workers feel that there is no difference between our words and actions,” he said. Pilot said he will observe a day-long fast at Shaheed Smarak on April 11 to press for his demand.

April 11 is the birth anniversary of Mahatma Jyotiba Phule.