Infighting in Rajasthan's ruling Congress has come out in the open after the party was wiped out in the Lok Sabha battle in the state, with Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot blaming his deputy Sachin Pilot for his son's humiliating defeat, IANS reported on Tuesday. Many Congress Ministers and MLAs are also reportedly upset and have gone public blaming the police and bureaucracy after the party's massive drubbing in the Lok Sabha elections.

The ruling Congress, which came to power in the state in December last year, could not win even a single seat in the recently concluded Lok Sabha polls. This also gave rise to speculation in political circles that the Congress might bring some changes in leadership in the state.

The poll debacle also appeared to deepen the rift within the party in Rajasthan between Pilot's supporters and those who back Ashok Gehlot. Some state leaders have openly expressed their disappointment over the party's performance in Rajasthan. Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee secretary Sushil Asopa had said on Facebook that Pilot should have been made chief minister instead of Ashok Gehlot. State ministers Udai Lal Anjana and Ramesh Meena had also demanded a detailed analysis of the defeat.

In an interview to a news channel, Gehlot said that Pilot, the state Congress President, was quite confident that Vaibhav Gehlot will win from Jodhpur and "so I think he should take responsibility for at least this seat".

Vaibhav Gehlot lost to Union Minister of State Gajendra Singh Shekhawat by over 3 lakh votes though the Chief Minister had campaigned in Jodhpur for days.