The Congress on Wednesday set terms for Sachin Pilot’s acceptance in the party even while Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot publicly accused his sacked deputy of having struck a deal with the BJP to destabilise the state government.

It was clear the Congress was treating the rebel lawmakers as a vanquished group. Pilot too seemed to have abandoned his combative posture by ruling out joining the BJP.

Many of the other rebels too showed signs of capitulation after Assembly Speaker C.P. Joshi sent notices of disqualification to all 19 dissidents, including Pilot.

“Sachin Pilot should not talk through the media. If he does not intend to join the BJP, he should come out and state it publicly, reaffirming his faith in the Congress,” party communications chief Randeep Surjewala said in Jaipur.

“They should also reject the hospitality of the BJP’s Haryana government and come out of the hotels ITC Grand and Lemon Tree. They should also stop talking to the BJP leaders.”

Pilot has been removed as deputy chief minister and state Congress president following his rebellion. Most of the rebels are holed up in hotels in Manesar, Haryana.

“We have been requesting them to return and join the Congress family. We want all the MLAs back. They can raise their concerns within the party forums,” Surjewala said.

“There is nobody in the Congress or the BJP who got so much as Pilot got in such a short span of time. Even during the last few days, all our top leaders talked to him and requested him to return.”

Pilot had told the media in an off-camera conversation on Wednesday morning that he was not joining the BJP.

While Surjewala’s comments were clear indication that the high command was open to Pilot’s return, Gehlot made it clear he did not want him back in Rajasthan.

It will be difficult for Pilot to return as deputy chief minister or state unit chief, and the central leadership will have to accommodate him in national politics, a task not easy to accomplish without a cooling-off period.

Gehlot appeared to deliberately make things difficult for Pilot if he intended to return, attacking him furiously in an unprovoked monologue before the media.

“The (then) deputy chief minister, PCC president was himself involved in the conspiracy, striking a deal with the BJP. I have proof, there are recordings…. Their agents are seen taking money... discussing instalments for horse-trading,” he said.

“This was supposed to happen during the Rajya Sabha polls (last month). They were being taken away at 2 in the night. I came to know and the MLAs had to be kept in a hotel for 10 days.”

Gehlot then launched a personal attack on Pilot: “Speaking good English, giving bites to the media are not enough. You are hobnobbing with the BJP. What is in your heart for the country? What is your ideological commitment? The fork of gold is not for eating.”

He added: “These youngsters didn’t go through the rigour; they didn’t have to struggle. (They) became minister, state chief straightaway. And they support horse-trading.”