Gehlot's OSD Alleges Sachin Pilot's Movements, Conversations Were Being Tracked, Blames Congress' Loss To Internal Rift

After Congress's loss in the Rajasthan Assembly elections, Ashok Gehlot’s Officer on Special Duty (OSD) Lokesh Sharma alleged that former deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot's communications and movements were under surveillance.

In response to News18's queries about whether Pilot's phone was being tapped and his movements tracked, as suggested by the supporters of the Congress leader, Sharma confirmed, "It's common knowledge that his destinations, his meetings, and his conversations were all closely monitored."

Pilot expressed his commitment to bringing up the matter at the Congress Legislature Party meeting. He has previously his intention to speak openly during the discussion. He emphasised that Lokesh Sharma's statements should be acknowledged and thoroughly considered.

Sharma also stated that the defeat could have been avoided with ease and he had advised the CM to consider replacing the incumbent MLAs and to address the paper leak issue raised by Pilot. Sharma believes that the internal strife within the party negatively impacted the election results, an election they had the potential to win.

Lokesh Sharma, who was not given a chance to run in the Rajasthan Assembly elections, blamed Gehlot for deceiving the party's top leadership and preventing accurate feedback from reaching them.

The OSD stated that he had shown interest in running for office from Bikaner and then Bhilwara, a seat the Congress had not won in 20 years, but Gehlot was "unwilling to take a risk".

While Pilot managed to win his Tonk seat, the future offerings of Congress to him remain uncertain. Pilot has definitively stated his intention to stay in Rajasthan and, similar to 2019, is willing to lead the Congress in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections in the state.