Preparations have started at the Raj Bhawan in Jaipur for the oath-taking ceremony, though it’s not unclear when it will be held.

Jaipur: Two-time chief minister Ashok Gehlot appears to be emerging as the favourite for the chief minister’s post in Rajasthan, after party chief Rahul Gandhi held hectic deliberations with senior leaders including him.

It is advantage Gehlot, sources said, after he came out of Gandhi’s residence.

Rajasthan Congress chief Sachin Pilot is also a strong contender for the post. However, Gehlot looks set to return as chief minister of the western state for the third time.

Gandhi also held a separate meeting with Pilot, prior to meeting Gehlot.

Preparations on at Raj Bhawan

With the Congress expected to announce the name of next Rajasthan chief minister within the next few hours, preparations have started at the Raj Bhawan in Jaipur for the oath-taking ceremony.

Workers were seen cleaning and colouring the walls of Raj Bhawan located in the city’s Civil Lines area.

Though it’s not clear when the ceremony will be held, Raj Bhawan officials don’t want to leave anything for the last minute and started working on preparations from Wednesday itself.

Meanwhile, Election Commission officials met Governor Kalyan Singh Thursday to apprise him of the election results, a spokesperson at the Raj Bhawan said.

Amid hectic lobbying for the top post, party president Rahul Gandhi said the name of the chief minister would be declared soon. Sources said that the decision would be taken Thursday itself.

State Congress chief Sachin Pilot and former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot are contending for the post.

Congress has won 99 seats and BJP 73 seats in the Assembly elections held on December 7.

Yesterday, a delegation of the Congress party had met the governor to stake claim to form government. -PTI

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