Sep 08, 2026 13:24 pm IST

Opinion | Sachin Pilot's Long Wait Is Over. Can Congress Finally Use Him?

The grand old party is now betting that the man who turned 'waiting' into a virtue can deliver Punjab

Rasheed Kidwai Rasheed Kidwai Columnist

Rasheed Kidwai Columnist

For a political party accustomed to managing competing ambitions, the latest organisational reshuffle of the Congress carries a message beyond the names on the appointment sheet. It is an attempt to answer a fundamental question confronting the grand old party: who can convert goodwill into votes, and who can rebuild an organisation where the Congress has lost its traditional advantage?

Among the changes announced by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, the appointment of Sachin Pilot as AICC General Secretary in-charge of Punjab stands out. It is not merely a state assignment, but a recognition of Pilot's endurance, acceptability, and ability to survive political turbulence without abandoning the party.

Within minutes of the announcement, Punjab Congress leaders across factions welcomed the decision. Former Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi, state Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring Brar, and Gurdaspur MP Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa publicly congratulated Pilot. Randhawa's response was particularly noteworthy. He spoke about Pilot's experience, leadership, and connection with people - qualities that Punjab Congress workers believe the party needs urgently.

Sachin Pilot has a favourite expression that he often uses in extended conversations: "There are more ways than one to skin a cat". Pilot's political career has repeatedly demanded that quality.

In September 2022, many believed Sachin Pilot was finally within touching distance of becoming Rajasthan Chief Minister. Ashok Gehlot's attempt to contest the Congress presidential election had created an opening. The Congress leadership wanted a transition, and Pilot appeared to be the natural choice. But Rajasthan politics produced another twist.

Gehlot loyalists refused to attend the Congress Legislature Party meeting convened to discuss leadership change. The rebellion embarrassed the central leadership and effectively ended the possibility of an immediate transition. For many politicians, such a moment would have resulted in either rebellion or exit. Pilot chose neither.

He remained inside the Congress, continued organisational work, and maintained his relevance. That decision required political discipline.

The joke among sections of Congress supporters and other social groups where Pilot enjoys considerable goodwill is that he alone appeared to have faith in Rahul Gandhi's interpretation of Leo Tolstoy's famous line: "The two most powerful warriors are patience and time."

Rajesh Pilot's Legacy, To Sachin's Unfinished Journey

Sachin........

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