When the Congress defeated the Bharatiya Janata Party in the North Indian states of Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan in 2018, an internal confl...
When the Congress defeated the Bharatiya Janata Party in the North Indian states of Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan in 2018, an internal conflict within the older party became clear for all to see.
In both states there was one leader who represented the traditional Congress approach of maintaining deep connections to lawmakers across party lines. This old-style leader was arrayed against a younger politician from a political dynasty who demanded a slice of power on the basis of their relationship with the high command in Delhi.
In Madhya Pradesh, Jyotiradtiya Scindia – the dynast – eventually rebelled. Earlier this year, he defected to the BJP, bringing down Chief Minister Kamal Nath’s government. In Rajasthan, it seemed as if such a situation had been avoided by making the younger Sachin Pilot deputy chief minister. The more experienced Ashok Gehlot took the top spot.
Despite that deal, the conflict between the two men has thrown the state Congress into a crisis this week. Sachin Pilot appears to be leading a breakaway faction of lawmakers unhappy with having to work under Gehlot.
There are, however, some major differences between what happened in Madhya Pradesh and what is now taking place in Rajasthan.
Here is what we know.
