While the Covid pandemic is managing to make almost everything in the country motionless, the arena of politics is perhaps a rare exception. The twists and turns in the run-up to the tussles for power that unfailingly define the usual high-voltage dramas in the Indian political playground is back once again, shifting the national attention from the Covid-19 curve which is showing no signs of flattening, to Rajasthan, at least for some while. The drama which started unfolding with the claim of the state’s Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot that the BJP is hatching a conspiracy to topple his Congress-led government was peaking towards a climax all throughout Sunday, triggering speculation across the political canvas and perceptible fear among the Congress camp that is it going to be a replay of Madhya Pradesh. Even if it is sure that much of the ‘actions’ are still in reserve, many political observers are of the opinion that it will be hardly surprising if such things happen.

Without doubt, the two key figures of the impending political crisis in the desert state are CM Gehlot and Deputy CM Sachin Pilot and it is also an open secret that the duo had never been on good terms since the formation of the government in 2018. There were allegations by the latter and his supporters including a sizeable number of sitting MLAs of the current Assembly that ‘humiliation’ by the CM camp has been constant during the two-year tenure and that crossed all limits after the Rajasthan police’s Special Operations Group (SOG) shot a letter to Pilot asking him to join the probe meant for unearthing the ‘attempts’ to topple the ruling government. It needs to be recalled that Pilot has been instrumental in reviving Rajasthan Congress after the 2013 assembly election debacle and it was under his leadership the grand old party returned to power in 2018. But the young leader’s expectation of getting the CM’s chair was turned by the Congress hierarchy and it is a fact that differences have only widened since then.

Meanwhile, that the high drama is reaching towards a decisive stage is evident from the claim of Pilot late Sunday evening that the ruling Rajasthan government is in the minority after over 30 party and some independent MLAs have pledged support to him. Reportedly, Pilot has also decided to skip the Congress Legislative Party meeting scheduled on Monday morning in Jaipur, making it amply clear that Rajasthan, in all probability, might be going the Madhya Pradesh way.

Things will be clear within a day or two. But, it will be rather unfortunate if a democratically elected government has to meet an untimely death, due to unethical political manoeuvres.