Rajasthan: “Why I am on the border as far as seating is concerned?” Sachin Pilot said.
Jaipur:
A day after his “reunion” with Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, Sachin Pilot’s seating caused much talk. Mr Pilot, who was sacked as Deputy Chief Minister, was seated far from Mr Gehlot, closer to the opposition benches.
“Why I am on the border as far as seating is concerned..Why am I sitting next to the opposition? It is because it’s the border, and only the bravest and most powerful warrior is sent to the border,” quipped Mr Pilot, who dropped his month-long revolt against the Chief Minister earlier this week.
It had been all smiles and handshakes when Mr Gehlot and Mr Pilot met yesterday for the first time since his revolt. During the rebellion, the Chief Minister had unleashed a blistering, unfiltered attack on Mr Pilot, even calling him “nikamma, naakara (useless)”.
But they seemed to put it behind them as they sat together at a meeting of Congress MLAs to plan for today’s session and the trust vote.
Mr Gehlot made it a point to let the rebels know that he would have won even without their support.
It seems he was not quite done.
Mr Pilot’s seating has been changed in the assembly from the government benches, where he sat as Deputy Chief Minister, to the second row in the extreme left.
During a debate in the Rajasthan assembly ahead of a trust vote called by the Congress government today, capping days of political drama over a rebel crisis, the 42-year-old ex-rebel intervened when the BJP’s Rajendra Rathore was speaking and was allowed to cut in.
“When I came to the Vidhan Sabha today, I wondered why I was sitting right on the corner next to the oppositions benches. Then I realised this is the border and I have been sent to the border,” he said.
“Many things will be said, much will be revealed. Whatever we had to say or do, we have been cured of our ailments. We have consulted a doctor in Delhi and we are back now.”
He added that he was ready to face the “fire” at the frontline. “We are ready and armed for the onslaught with our armour, our shield and our weapons,” he said to loud desk-thumping.
