Jaipur, August 4, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The question of who holds the real command of the Rajasthan Congress has resurfaced after senior party leader Shanti Dhariwal referred to former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot as the party’s “high command” in the state, triggering fresh debate over the factional divisions within the organisation.
The remark has revived the long-standing leadership tussle in the Rajasthan Congress, where the influence of Gehlot and the political standing of former Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot have remained central issues since their rivalry came into the open.
The controversy emerged at a Jaipur meeting held to discuss preparations for upcoming panchayat and urban local body elections. The gathering, instead of projecting organisational unity, highlighted competing power centres and internal disagreements among party leaders and workers.
The meeting also witnessed allegations from former Congress candidates over internal sabotage during the 2023 Assembly elections. Former Malviya Nagar candidate Archana Sharma claimed that her biggest challenge was not the BJP but opposition from within her own party.
Sharma alleged that efforts to undermine her candidature had started months before the election. Former Hawa Mahal candidate R.R. Tiwari also made similar allegations, blaming internal “Jaichands” for his defeat and accusing some party insiders of working against official candidates.
Tiwari backed Dhariwal’s remarks, arguing that while Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi represent the national leadership, Gehlot continues to remain the most influential figure within Rajasthan Congress due to his organisational network and decades of political experience.
The comments brought back the unresolved debate over the balance of power between the state leadership and the central command.
However, several Congress leaders rejected the suggestion that Gehlot was the party’s high command in Rajasthan. Former minister Pratap Singh Khachariyawas said that Rahul Gandhi was the high command of the Congress and that Dhariwal, being a senior leader, was entitled to express his views.
Gehlot himself avoided accepting the description and said leadership decisions rested solely with the Congress high command.
“This is not our responsibility at all. Why should we discuss something that is not within our purview? It is entirely the High Command’s responsibility,” Gehlot said.
He added that the central leadership evaluates political conditions through surveys, feedback from elected representatives and organisational assessments before taking decisions.
Gehlot said Rahul Gandhi had established a mechanism to conduct surveys, including those related to ticket distribution, and decisions were taken after considering multiple inputs.
The former Chief Minister’s remarks appeared aimed at reaffirming the authority of the central leadership while distancing himself from Dhariwal’s statement.
The leadership debate unfolded amid other signs of internal challenges for the Rajasthan Congress. Former Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot was absent from the party’s protest in Jaipur over the NEET paper leak issue, while state Congress in-charge Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa’s absence also led to speculation about coordination within the organisation.
Meanwhile, Gehlot has continued to project confidence about the party’s prospects, saying the Congress remains strong in northern India and expressing confidence that it will return to power in Rajasthan in the next Assembly elections.
“We are winning the next Assembly elections,” Gehlot said during his visit to Jodhpur while urging party workers to remain united.
The debate gained further momentum after hundreds of workers led by former minister Mahendrajeet Singh Malviya joined the Congress at Gehlot’s residence, where slogans of “Chauthi Baar Gehlot Sarkar” (Gehlot Government for the Fourth Time) were raised.
Rajasthan Congress president Govind Singh Dotasra reacted to the episode by saying the party does not function through the individual branding of any one leader. He also advised workers during organisational programmes to avoid raising slogans in favour of individual leaders.
Despite repeated appeals from leaders, slogans praising personalities continued during the meeting, highlighting the continuing struggle over political space within the state unit.
While Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi remain the Congress’ national leadership, the latest controversy has once again exposed the unresolved question of authority and influence within Rajasthan Congress as the party prepares for upcoming local body elections.
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