Once there, he was quickly on the offensive, pulling few punches when discussing how Kesri had withdrawn support to the United Front government without consulting him. He explained why the Congress, disgusted with being pushed around by the UF, had finally decided to show 'em who's boss.
And when the questions finally got too warm for him, Pilot made a graceful exit.

Everyone: I am sorry, I was stuck in the traffic jam because of heavy rain and power failure. I apologise for the delay.

Mr Pilot, Welcome again to the Rediff Chat. As you can see, there is a large audience waiting to speak to you. I hope you enjoy this experience.

Bhavani: My original name in Air Force was Rajesh Prasad. It became Rajesh Pilot when I fought the first election in 1980.

Pilot Sahab !! Kya aap aasmaan main he udte rahenge ya zammen par aake chat show mein tashreef lain aayenge.

Mr Pilot, Good evening. What is going to happen? We in the West are appalled at what is happening back home. Will we have another election?

Hi Mr Pilot, what do you see as the leading scenario in our present political situation?

Hey, is this dude in yet? Wasn’t it to be at 8?

They are all having some turbulence out there, I don't think we would get him arrive today until he clears past the clouds (I mean crowds).

The numbers, as Rediff informed us today, just don't add up. How do you hope to get 272 people considering that you have only 143 people now?

Tomorrow should be a sweet day for you. You've got Kesri trying to explain the death of a doc just when it seemed nothing would come of it. Since you don't plan an open revolt yet why did you push Kesri into this fix when you could have amicably solved any pending problems with the Congress chief himself?

Mr Pilot: Why did you withdraw your nomination? You sorely disappointed a whole lot of Bombayites. You lost our trust. Explain.

Namaskar, Pilot Sahab Yeh desh ka kya haal bana rakkha hai ! Aap kuchh karte kyon nahin?

My Q - Will it be Moopanar after Gowda? Or will the Congress split?

You were in the north east when Kesri struck. Did you approve of this move. Weren't you bypassed in this decision?

Namaskara, Pilotsaab. Mr Kesri seems almost vindictive in his demand that Mr Deve Gowda resign. What has Mr Deve Gowda doen to deserve this? Is it the Tanwar case which you brought to his notice? He seems irritated that you were the PM's emissary in the NE too!

Pilotji: Could you please start with first things first. why did the Congress do what it did? how would you justify it?

Gauri: Yes, political situation is very peculiar and difficult. But politicians are known to make things possible which looks impossible. Efforts are on to bring an approach which could bring UF and Congress out of this situation in successful manner in keeping communal forces away from power as per the original resolution of secular forces of May 1996. But difficult times are ahead.

Mr. Pilot, Let us formally welcome you. Do we get a side scoop of the happenings in Congress for the 30-odd minute wait we've had

Mr. Pilot, How do you think Congress can form the government? The numbers simply don't add up. If Congress wanted to be in power, they should have made an arrangement with UF similar to the arrangement made by BJP and BSP

How can this happen, Mr Pilot? UF says nothing doing about changing Mr Deve Gowda. The govt may fall. Will the Congress be able to get support only after that happens?

Mr Pilot: For your information, I have left behind two kids, a grouchy husband and dal on the stove to be with you. So kindly don't keep us waiting anymore and answer as many questions as possible.... please?

Sharad Pawar decided not to fight despite the shabby treatment he received during the withdrawal of support. Why did you, known never to be a wimp, not take Kesri to task or at least demand the Congress stop kidding everyone and get back to the safety of an anti-BJP group?

I know you will speak like a true Congressi, supporting the leader. But can you deny that it was blind ambition that led Kesriji to do what he did. When did he inform you of his decision? Why were you kept away from the decision-making process?

Mr Pilot, hasn't this "communalist forces" sing-song lost some of its punch by now? Instead of such negativist agenda, why don't you have a positive one?

Pilotji, According to different Media Sources, the Congress is afraid to face elections. I do not understand the reason for that. I personally feel that congress may its position in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. In fact, Janata Dal is going to suffer heavy losses in Karnataka and Bihar. One must remember that JD could not even retain the Deve Gowda's assembly seat in Karnataka. Similarly TDP is going to do very badly in Andhra. My feeling is that by 10th midnight, UF (minus Left) is going to be ready for a Congress-lead coalition.

Pilot Saahab, What is the latest update from Congress HQ ? How close are you to the 272 mark ?

Will my old pal Govindaswamy Moopanar become PM?

All the parties are taking the country for a long jolly ride, without bothering about the people. Who is leading this ride, cannot be said because the ride is going in circles. I think each and every Indian should feel ashamed of having such a bunch of politicians. Almost everyone seem to be involved in some scam or other. If only we could recover the alleged scam(s) monies from those responsible then we would wipe out all our deficits. What do you say Rajesh?

epee: Hear, hear!

On ur 'politicians can make impossible things possible' - I would swap possible and impossible :-) and I don’t get ur logic behind communal/secular. If you call BJP communal, then more people wanted BJP to rule than the Congress. Who are you guys to talk about stopping BJP and the like? Aren’t you simply power-crazy?

But Sir, this does not seem like a move to counter communal forces alone. The Congress has practically no credibility any more. It is more a retaliatory effect to the dismal performance in Punjab and Kesri's strained relations with Gowda. So please don't harp on this 'communal stance', it has no real basis.

Pilotji Namaskar, What are your comments about the repetitive failures of the coalition governments in India? Do you think India can never have a stable government in future looking into the present situation?

Gauri: Yes, I was away on a north-east tour and I came to know about the working committee decision when I landed at Palam airport. And Gauri, you will be surprised that it was a driver of mine who happens to be in the Delhi police who informed me that the Congress has withdrawn support, and unfortunately I bull-shited him by saying: ‘You bugger, don’t spread rumours. Do you think this could happen without my knowledge?’ And later on I apologised to him after I reached home and learnt about it from my staff. But after I reached Delhi, I said although this decision has been taken by the Congress president and other colleagues of mine to withdraw support and stake a claim to form the government, as a Congressman I said I would be very happy if the Congress forms the government, but we should tell the nation how we are forming the government in a transparent manner and that is the Congress culture. And since then I am watching the situation.

Pilotji, will you please condescend to answer? My dal is boiling over on the stove! And how come a politician doesn't have his answer ready? Fie, fie!

I am with Nandini, Can you please give us some honest info about why this is happening and what is in it for the Congress. What is the intention of this whole thing?

Mr Pilot, what candour! Spoken like a fauji. When I met you once in 1994 I remember you asked me to take a Coke because it was like what we had in the fauj(rum). Rajesh Pilot aage bado, hum tumhare saat hain!

Mr Pilot I love your frankness and forthrightness

Mr Pilot: This is all because Pawar and you did not have the GUTS to take that annoying man in when you HAD THE CHANCE. And we have to suffer for it.

Hey, on your 'Congress culture of being transparent' - why don’t you guys tell the world what you did with the JMM MP's rather than one of them spilling the beans? :-)

I am sure even Indira Gandhi did not act in such imperial fashion. What was Mr Kesri's motives? Was it fear? Was it desperation?

Pilot Saahab, I think its time to think about a National Govt.with able leaders from different parties coming together and working together for the SAKE of Bharat ! Pls. don't BS about communal forces...BJP.. Your comments please.