Rajasthan Assembly Elections 2018: Unity claim falls flat as Congress workers clash outside office over seat aspirations

Big claims of a united Congress fell flat on Friday when hundreds of supporters of Prashant Bairwa and Kamal Bairwa, aspirants of Niwai assembly seat, clashed with each other hurling sticks in front of PCC chief Sachin Pilot. The police used mild force to disperse them while on the other hand, Pilot forced to make a denial on the release of any list of candidates which prompted the supporters to show their strength.

“The screening committee and the Central Election Committee (CEC) are working to finalize names. The speculations should not be made on candidature as it shoots BP (blood pressure) of the aspirants. The first list of the candidates will be released post-Diwali. The consensus on single name panel has been reached on maximum seats, and hence it is not appropriate to the viral list of candidates,” said Pilot asking leaders and workers to fight the coming assembly election with team spirit.

At a time when Pilot was preaching on unity and denying on the release of any list, the supporters of Congress leaders- Prashant and Kamal- were shoving fists, hurling sticks to beat each other in front of the party office. Even when Pilot entered the PCC office, he encountered the agitated supporters. The fight originates from a viral list of candidates in which Prashant has been shown candidate from Niwai constituency. 

Hence, supporters of Kamal packed in nearly 300 jeeps and cars arrived at the PCC headquarter to demonstrate against his candidature. They were carrying placards- ‘Remove Prashant from Niwai’. The supporters of Prashan also reached the office which created a situation of ‘violent’ confrontation.

Meanwhile, Pilot, addressing a press conference, has also denied any chance of an alliance with other parties. “The party so far has decided to fight all 200 seats on its own. The decision of any alliance has left to the party president Rahul Gandhi. If any discussion takes place (on alliance), then we would go with like-minded parties,” said Pilot.