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The Congress is breathing down the neck of current Rajasthan chief Minister Vasundhara Raje and the BJP government in the state. And keen to wrest power from the BJP due to anti- incumbency, it is learnt that the Congress state party president Sachin Pilot and former CM Ashok Gehlot will both contest the forthcoming polls on December 7. With both top guns contesting, will the battle for the CM post be an issue for the congress ? It remains to be seen.
Ashok Gehlot was diplomatic when asked about the CM post candidature when he stated : “Since independence the Congress has never declared its chief ministerial face in Rajasthan and the party is happy to carry on this tradition”.
The two leaders ended the speculation over whether they will contest the polls at a joint press conference at the Congress headquarters, where the party announced the joining of BJP MP Harish Chandra Meena from Dausa in Rajasthan.
“We are all united in Rajasthan and the BJP is conspiring to spread false propaganda that the Congress is divided. I will contest the upcoming assembly election and Sachin Pilot and other senior leaders will also contest,” Gehlot told reporters.
“We are all united in Rajasthan and the BJP is conspiring to spread false propaganda that the Congress is divided. I will contest the upcoming assembly election and Sachin Pilot and other senior leaders will also contest,” Gehlot told reporters.
Gehlot was asked about the delay by the Congress in announcing candidates and reports that claimed that infighting among the top state leaders over distribution of tickets was responsible for it. Filing of nomination papers in Rajasthan started on Monday and will continue till November 19.
Pilot also said that on party chief Rahul Gandhi’s directions and Gehlot’s request, he will contest the Assembly elections.
Pilot had last contested the Lok Sabha election from Ajmer in 2014, which he lost. He, however, did not contest the bye-election earlier this year.
“There is no division in the party in the state and all the leaders are united in the bid to defeat the BJP with a thumping majority,” Pilot said.
