Days after Sachin Pilot and his rebel camp declared an open rebellion against Ashok Gehlot, the Rajasthan chief minister described his former deputy as a "worthless" person and alleged that he backstabbed Congress by conspiring with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to dislodge his party's government in the state. Speaking with the media in Jaipur, Ashok Gehlot said Sachin Pilot was never disrespected as the state party unit chief even though he was "worthless". "There was no demand to replace state Congress chief in 7 years even when we knew Sachin Pilot is worthless," Ashok Gehlot said.