Congress likely to pick Ashok Gehlot as Rajasthan Chief Minister

Jaipur: Congress President Rahul Gandhi, on Thursday, picked veteran leader Ashok Gehlot as the new Chief Minister of Rajasthan with the state Congress President Sachin Pilot apparently giving up after putting up a spirited claim for the post.

Pilot had in evening appealed the party workers to maintain peace and said that he would welcome any decision taken by the party chief.

Pilot issued the appeal on Twitter as reports emerged that senior leader Ashok Gehlot has been picked by the party leadership to lead the government and that his (Pilot’s) supporters were protesting on the streets demanding that Pilot should be made the Chief Minister.

Rahul Gandhi likely to announce the name of 67-year-old Gehlot, a two-time Chief Minister, in the evening.

Gehlot and Pilot met Rahul Gandhi at his residence in Delhi where he was joined by his mother and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.

Congress won 99 seats and with its pre-poll alliance partner it managed to touch the halfway mark in the 200-member Assembly.

Pilot reportedly put up a strong claim to the post on the ground that he had galvanised the party after the defeat in 2013, when he was appointed the state party chief.

Gehlot, who was planning to leave for Jaipur but was asked to stay back in Delhi, also appealed to workers to maintain peace and said any decision taken by the leadership will be acceptable to all.

About the delay in announcing a decision, Gehlot said: “Such decisions take time because three states are involved. It is good that the leadership has decided to consult various leaders and workers.”