India, July 31 -- The bitter power tussle in the Rajasthan Congress has once again brought the age old issue of infighting in the grand old party and the role of the central leadership to the fore. Tensions in the Rajasthan government had been simmering for long between Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and his former deputy Sachin Pilot, who was also the state unit chief till the recent flashpoint led to his ouster over alleged attempts to destabilize the state government.

While power struggles and factional fights have been a part and parcel of Congress politics over the past several decades, it may be wrong to assume that such confrontation and shadow boxing is limited only to Rajasthan.

The latest crisis is, rather, reminiscent of the cha...