Even as many faces in the Congress responded in a sombre manner to the exit of Jyotiraditya Scindia, the crisis is bringing to the fore tension in the party. Scindia on Wednesday formally joined the BJP and was nominated as its candidate for a Rajya Sabha seat in Madhya Pradesh.
Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot on Wednesday tweeted that it was "unfortunate" that Jyotiraditya Scindia had left the Congress. Pilot tweeted, "Unfortunate to see @JM_Scindia parting ways with @INCIndia. I wish things could have been resolved collaboratively within the party."
Interestingly, the Congress had relied on Pilot as a being an 'envoy' to woo Scindia back to the party. However, Scindia apparently did not respond to the overtures.
Nagma Morarji, a movie actor-turned-Congress politician, responded to Pilot's tweet. Nagma is currently a general secretary in the All India Mahila Congress. Nagma complained that people's efforts were not being given recognition in the Congress and many will follow Jyotiraditya Scindia in leaving.
Nagma tweeted, "There’s a lot of discontentment among many of us seems like the party totally fails to see it @SachinPilot after a time it’s not abt ideology anymore it’s abt recognition of ones efforts and given one an appropriate due so it’s not surprising @JM_Scindia left many will follow too."
Nagma held on to the narrative of giving recognition to "hard work/commitment" when responding to a tweet by Sushmita Dev, president of the Mahila Congress, on Thursday. Dev tweeted, "If anyone is feeling alienated pls don’t, just get involved post or no post. Young vs old narrative is a hollow one..."
To this Nagma wrote, "While I absolutely agree wth u it’s nt at al 1verses the other can’t b,experience is a MUST it’s abt right balance definitely shud b,as young hd the opportunity to work wth every Senior leader for 17yrs, Hard work/Commitment needs 2b recognised, We r committed to serve the Nation."
Nagma had contested the 2014 Lok Sabha election on a Congress ticket from Meerut, but lost.
Sachin Pilot, along with Jyotiraditya Scindia, was part of the 'youth brigade' of the Congress led by Rahul Gandhi in the UPA years. Both Pilot and Scindia had served as ministers in the Manmohan Singh government. Interestingly, the Congress had relied on Pilot as a being an 'envoy' to woo Scindia back to the party. However, Scindia apparently did not respond to the overtures.
Both Pilot and Scindia were extensively involved in campaigning for the Assembly polls in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, respectively, in 2018, which the Congress won. Both were tipped to become chief ministers, but the party opted for older leaders in both states. There have been claims Pilot, like Scindia, continued to have differences with 'old guard' of the Congress.
There has been speculation that Pilot, too, could follow Scindia and leave the Congress. Interestingly, an editorial in Saamana, the Shiv Sena mouthpiece, on Thursday, raises the possibility.
"When seniors fail, the young leadership should be encouraged. This is not happening and that is why Sachin Pilot and [Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok] Gehlot are at loggerheads. If the matter is not resolved, it is believed that Rajasthan may go the Madhya Pradesh way," the Shiv Sena editorial claimed.