In a startling revelation, Lokesh Sharma, a former aide to ex-Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, has claimed that during the tumultuous Congress crisis in 2020, Gehlot ordered the tracking of phones and movements of party rebels, notably Sachin Pilot, in a bid to thwart their attempts to remove him from the top post. Sharma, who previously served as an officer on special duty (OSD) to Gehlot, made these allegations just days before the second phase of Lok Sabha polling in Rajasthan.
Sharma disclosed that Gehlot provided recordings of phone calls and instructed him to share them with the media during the state’s political turmoil in 2020. However, Gehlot’s office has refrained from commenting on Sharma’s accusations.
Meanwhile, sources close to Sachin Pilot, the former Deputy Chief Minister, stated that their stance has been vindicated. They reiterated their loyalty to the Congress and denied any negotiations with the BJP, emphasizing their commitment to the party.
Speaking at a press conference in Jaipur, Sharma revealed that he endured extensive interrogations lasting 8-9 hours by the Crime Branch in Delhi regarding the phone tapping case. He maintained silence until now, alleging that the person responsible for the phone tapping incident left him in the lurch.
Sharma further asserted that Gehlot handed him phone recordings of various political figures, including Union Minister and BJP leader Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, late Congress leader Bhanwarlal Sharma, and a middleman Sanjay Jain, instructing him to release them to the media.
The former OSD to Gehlot disclosed that the phones of Pilot and his associates were tapped after they indicated plans to approach the Congress high command regarding issues with Gehlot’s leadership in the state. This revelation sheds light on the internal power struggle within the Congress party during that period.
The political crisis in Rajasthan escalated in 2020 with the release of three audio clips allegedly involving discussions about orchestrating the downfall of the Gehlot government. This led to a rebellion by Sachin Pilot and 19 Congress MLAs, marking a significant upheaval in the state’s political landscape.
Sharma, who has been named as an accused in an FIR filed in Delhi in March 2021 concerning these audio recordings, has been summoned and interrogated multiple times by the Delhi Police.
The power tussle between Sachin Pilot and Ashok Gehlot underscores the complexities within the Congress party’s leadership dynamics. Pilot’s failed revolt in 2020 resulted in his removal from key party positions, reflecting the enduring rift within the Rajasthan Congress.
