As Congress leaders attack the Gandhis, Rahul and Sonia are using Gehlot to shield them

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has been indulging in some interesting posturing of late, raising speculations among several quarters of his likely theoretical promotion as the Congress party’s firefighter, trouble-shooter and unofficial spokesperson, much like Ahmed Patel. In the days gone by, Gehlot has been defending the Congress, or to put it simply, the Gandhis vociferously, are voicing their opinions as his own. While the opinions of Gehlot might very well be in sync with that of the Gandhis on almost all counts, his expression of the same has now raised eyebrows, making many believe that the Gandhis are using him to quell inner-party dissent against them.

Subsequent to the embarrassing defeat of the Congress in Bihar, despite being in alliance with the RJD and left parties, there is a growing consensus within the Congress that the Gandhis have failed in their basic responsibilities to keep the party afloat even as a relevant political entity in India any longer. Kapil Sibal is particularly disgruntled with the status-quo leadership of the Gandhis, leading him to demand serious introspection over the reasons which led to the loss of the party in Bihar. Sibal also said that the people of India do not consider the Congress as an alternative political front in India.

Ashok Gehlot, in a surprising appearance, was quick to mount an attack against Sibal, and as a consequence, against all dissenters of the Congress party who are dissatisfied with the Gandhis leading the party. “There was no need for Mr Kapil Sibal to mention our internal issue in the media, this has hurt the sentiments of party workers across the country,” Gehlot said in a tweet. He added, “Congress has seen various crises including 1969, 1977, 1989 and later in the 1996 – but every-time we came out stronger due to our ideology, programs, policies and firm belief in party leadership.”

Ashok Gehlot had then, on the subject of states like Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and others bringing laws criminalising love jihad and forced conversions, said, “Love jihad is a word manufactured by BJP to divide the nation and disturb communal harmony. Marriage is a matter of personal liberty, bringing a law to curb it is completely unconstitutional and will not stand in any court of law. Jihad has no place in love.”

Ashok Gehlot seems to be on the path of becoming that leader of the Congress who speaks out openly what the Gandhis or other senior Congress leaders religiously loyal to the Gandhis cannot say. While Congress has many spokespersons, Ashok Gehlot is fast emerging as the personal spokesman of the Gandhi-Vadra family.

The Gandhis outsourcing the job of voicing their opinions on Ashok Gehlot also goes on to show how the family and party at large is preparing to portray itself for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. ‘Soft Hindutva’ as it is called, is a card which the Congress is ready to play, as it realises that its appeasement and fake secularism has turned the party redundant nationally. It is for the same reasons that the Gandhis have chosen not to speak out against the laws being proposed against love jihad in various BJP-ruled states.

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Whether Ashok Gehlot continues defending the indefensible further is yet to be seen. If the Rajasthan Chief Minister speaks what the Gandhis dare not sound a whimper over, then rest assured, Gehlot’s words must be taken as those of the royal family which refuses to give up its claim to the Congress’ throne.