Congress party is no stranger to popular leaders breaking away from its ranks and floating new regional outfits. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jaganmohan Reddy was once a leader of the Grand Old Party before he broke away from it and founded YSRCP. Mamata Banerjee, who is today the most popular leader in West Bengal and is its unchallenged CM, was once with the Congress party. She formed the TMC and the rest is history.
Yet another mass leader is now gearing up to form a party of his own. He is Sachin Pilot from Rajasthan. Pilot is one of the CM aspirants the Congress high command has been unable to placate in the last 5 years.
As per national media reports, he will be establishing a regional party named Pragatisheel Congress on June 11. Rajasthan will be going to polls in December this year. Pilot has been opposed to Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, accusing his government of corruption.
Pilot wanted to dislodge Gehlot but BJP leader Vasundhara Raje herself helped save the Congress government last year. If Pilot's regional party manages to secure a good chunk of votes, it will be tough for the BJP to amass anti-government votes all for itself. Is there a bigger game at work?
