Sachin Pilot's solo outreach campaign likely to trigger fresh worry for Congress ahead of Rajasthan polls

Launching next week, Sachin Pilot will address the farmers and youth in a series of public meetings.

Pilot, a rival of Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, has planned five meetings with farmers across the state.

The rallies will be held in Nagaur, Hanumangardh, Jhunjhunu and Pali between Jan 16 and 19.

Gehlot is unlikely to attend the campaign.

According to reports, Pilot decided to launch his solo campaign as a pressure tactic over the unresolved leadership tussle in Rajasthan that continues to worry Congress even after a successful Bharat Jodo Yatra season in the state.

However, the Pilot faction denied the speculations.

The outreach campaign is aimed at "keeping the party relevant and in action in an election year", media reports quoting sources close to Pilot claimed.

Pilot, who had revolted against Gehlot, is credited for Congress' turnaround in Rajasthan and eventual victory in the 2018 assembly elections.

However, the Congress top brass led by then-president Rahul Gandhi had picked Gehlot as the successor of Vasundhara Raje of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Pilot was stripped of his Deputy Chief Minister's post when he had camped outside the state in a rebellion against the top brass.

The desert state is scheduled to go to polls in late 2023.