Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has reopened discussion around one of the most dramatic episodes in recent Congress politics. Speaking about the events surrounding the 2022 Congress presidential election, Gehlot claimed that a deliberate political campaign was launched to create the impression that he was unwilling to step down as Rajasthan chief minister in order to take up a larger role within the party.

His remarks have once again brought attention to the internal developments that shaped the leadership transition within the Congress party and eventually led to a different outcome in the presidential race.

Gehlot Says He Was Ready to Take National Responsibility

Addressing reporters at Jaipur’s Constitution Club, Ashok Gehlot stated that he was fully prepared to move to Delhi and assume organizational responsibilities if the party leadership had asked him to do so.

According to Gehlot, if Congress leader Sonia Gandhi had formally chosen him to lead the party, there would have been no question of refusing the responsibility.

He argued that the narrative suggesting he wanted to retain the chief minister’s position at all costs was misleading and did not reflect his actual intentions at the time.

‘A Major Conspiracy Was Created’

Gehlot went on to describe the developments of 2022 as part of a larger political conspiracy aimed at damaging his reputation.

According to the veteran Congress leader, an image was intentionally projected that he was reluctant to leave Rajasthan and take charge of the party organization at the national level. He maintained that the reality was exactly the opposite and that he had been willing to shoulder the responsibility if required.

The former chief minister said the events were orchestrated in a manner that left him facing criticism and controversy despite being prepared to follow the party leadership’s decision.

Reflecting on the episode, Gehlot admitted that he may not have fully understood the seriousness of the situation as it unfolded, which allowed misconceptions to gain momentum.

Comments on Relationship With Sachin Pilot

During the interaction, Gehlot also spoke about his long-discussed political relationship with fellow Congress leader Sachin Pilot.

Despite years of political differences and public disagreements, Gehlot emphasized that he does not consider Pilot an adversary. Instead, he said he has always had affection and respect for the younger leader.

Recalling an earlier phase of Pilot’s political career, Gehlot claimed that he had personally recommended Pilot’s name to the party leadership for a ministerial position in the Union government. According to him, that support played a role in helping Pilot secure a place in the central cabinet.

However, Gehlot also expressed disappointment that his contribution in that regard was never publicly acknowledged.

Revisiting the 2022 Congress Leadership Battle

The controversy dates back to 2022 when the Congress party was preparing to elect a new president after Rahul Gandhi declined to return to the party’s top post.

At the time, Ashok Gehlot was widely viewed as one of the strongest contenders and was considered a trusted choice of the Gandhi family. Political observers believed he had a realistic chance of becoming the party’s national president.

However, the situation changed dramatically following political developments in Rajasthan. A parallel meeting of Congress legislators triggered a major controversy and created uncertainty over the state’s leadership transition.

The events quickly escalated into a national political issue, generating intense debate within the party and attracting widespread media attention.

How Mallikarjun Kharge Emerged as Congress President

As the controversy deepened, Gehlot gradually moved out of contention for the party’s top position. The leadership race eventually culminated in the election of Mallikarjun Kharge as Congress president.

Kharge went on to become the party’s first non-Gandhi president in more than two decades, marking a significant moment in the organization’s history.

Now, several years later, Gehlot’s comments have revived interest in the behind-the-scenes political developments that influenced the outcome of the election.

Debate Over Congress’s Internal Politics Continues

Gehlot’s latest remarks are likely to fuel fresh discussions about internal decision-making within the Congress party and the events that reshaped its leadership structure in 2022.

While the former Rajasthan chief minister insists that he was ready to accept a national role, his claim that a political conspiracy damaged his image adds a new dimension to an already significant chapter in Congress history.

As political observers revisit the events of that period, Gehlot’s statements provide a rare insight into how one of the party’s most experienced leaders views the circumstances that ultimately kept him out of the Congress president’s office.