The Congress in Rajasthan on Thursday welcomed former Union Minister Gurudas Kamat’s decision to withdraw his resignation to quit politics and return to the party as the All India Congress Committee general secretary. Mr. Kamat will continue to serve as the party's in-charge of Rajasthan.
The return of Mr. Kamat – five-time MP from Maharashtra – as the in- charge of party affairs in the State is expected to strengthen former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot amid speculation about “two power centres” in the Congress with the completion of two years by Sachin Pilot as PCC president.
Mr. Kamat's cordial relations with Mr. Gehlot go back to several years, even though the latter had criticised his resignation given in a unilateral manner. Mr. Gehlot had asked the former Union Minister to stand united “like a rock for the party at this hard time”.
The Congress workers and leaders in Rajasthan were already discussing Mr. Kamat's probable replacement from among the AICC office-bearers to head the party's affairs in the State. Leaders have now described Mr. Kamat's return as a positive development which would strengthen the party and help it in contesting the 2018 State Assembly elections with energy and vigour.
Mr. Pilot said in a statement that Mr. Kamat would resume his responsibilities in Rajasthan in compliance with the directions of party president Sonia Gandhi. He expressed gratitude to the senior Congress leader on behalf of party workers for taking the right decision.
At a meeting of PCC executives and office-bearers, presided over by Mr. Kamat, in March this year, there was a discussion on the Assembly elections to be fought under the leadership of Mr. Pilot. While Deeg-Kumher MLA Vishvendra Singh had asked participants to raise their hands in support of Mr. Pilot, Mr. Gehlot had later stated that “not much” should be read into this.
