CNBC-TV18 Exclusive | Watch Sachin Pilot explain Congress strategy in Rajasthan

With the Rajasthan assembly election just around the corner, speculation is rife about the potential chief ministerial candidates from both the incumbent Congress and the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). In a recent conversation with CNBC-TV18, Congress MLA and Tonk party candidate Sachin Pilot shed light on the party's strategy for the upcoming 200-member assembly poll, the chief ministerial candidate, and more.

Sachin Pilot, who was a prominent face in the last election and led the campaign for the Congress, faced disappointment as he narrowly missed the chief minister's chair, which went to Ashok Gehlot.

When questioned about the possibility of history repeating itself if Congress emerges victorious, Pilot emphasised the party's primary objective of securing a majority. He clarified that it is not the Congress tradition to declare a chief ministerial candidate, and their current focus is on winning the elections.

In the 2018 state elections, Sachin Pilot tirelessly traversed the state, actively participating in public events, gatherings, and festivals to garner support for the Congress. His strong competition with Ashok Gehlot for the CM post was evident. However, following the election results, both leaders made multiple visits to Delhi to plead their cases for the chief ministerial position, with Gehlot ultimately securing the seat. This turn of events had a significant impact on Pilot's standing within the party and his political career.

Over the past five years, Pilot has experienced a range of political events, from staging a coup to critiquing Gehlot and protesting against his government's handling of corruption cases involving the BJP. These actions led to Gehlot referring to his former deputy as a "traitor." However, despite the acrimonious exchanges, Pilot expressed his commitment to moving forward. He mentioned that he was advised by senior party leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi to "forgive, forget, and move on," and he is following that guidance.

Regarding concerns about internal conflicts affecting the morale of party workers, Pilot asserted that the Congress cadre's dedication is to the party and its principles rather than specific individuals. He exuded confidence in the party's prospects for securing a second consecutive term, believing that Rajasthan would break its 30-year trend and bring Congress back to power.

Pilot also addressed issues such as the paper leak scandal and corruption charges. He criticized the enforcement directorate's actions against Congress leaders as politically motivated and attributed the lack of relief for farmers in terms of farm loan waivers to the central government's non-cooperation, preventing loan relief for farmers who borrowed from centralized banks.