The Congress was quick to make changes in the State leadership in Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh after the recent poll debacle, but in Rajasthan the party continues to drag its feet.
On Saturday, the party announced its long awaited organisational reshuffle. It promoted Rajasthan’s former Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot to the position of general secretary. Last week, the party had nominated former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot as a member of the National Alliance Committee. The two appointments indicate that it will be looking for a fresh face for the post of leader of the Congress Legislature Party. The other question looming over is whether the party will retain State chief Govind Singh Dotasra.
According to party insiders, the party is trying to balance the caste arithmetic in the State that will be crucial for the Lok Sabha elections, just a few months away. If Mr. Dotasra — who is one of the prominent Jat leaders — is to be replaced, then the party will have to appoint another Jat face in either of the two positions. Though, those close to Mr. Dotasra claim that the central leadership has not given him any indication that it is looking for his replacement.
