Ending days of suspense, Congress veteran Ashok Gehlot was on Friday selected as the next chief minister of Rajasthan while his younger rival Sachin Pilot had to settle as his deputy.
Congress President Rahul Gandhi made the announcement in his now cryptic style by posting a photograph of him flanked by a beaming Gehlot and a smiling Pilot with a caption “the united colours of Rajasthan”.
Pilot, 41, had stuck to his demand for being appointed as the chief minister against a stiff challenge from the 67-year-old Gehlot, a two-term chief minister of Rajasthan, the favoured choice of the party. Intense discussions followed over the last three days, with Rahul holding a series of meetings with AICC observer K C Venugopal, AICC General Secretary Avinash Pande, UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and even his sister Priyanka Vadra.
Rahul also held at least three separate one-on-one meetings with Gehlot and Pilot, whose supporters turned violent in parts of Rajasthan.
After a lengthy meeting that Rahul had with Gehlot and Pilot on Friday, Venugopal made the announcement at a press conference at the AICC headquarters. “Experience and dynamic leadership will come together in Rajasthan. Congress president and the Congress party believes this leadership will give total strength to the party and fulfil the aspirations of the people of Rajasthan,” Venugopal said.
Gehlot thanked Rahul for giving him the opportunity to serve the people of the state for a third time and promised that he and Pilot would give “good governance”. “My and Ashok Gehlotji’s magic has worked wonders,” Pilot said in brief remarks at the press conference with Gehlot by his side.
Swearing-in on Dec 17
Gehlot and Pilot met Governor Kalyan Singh in Jaipur and staked claim to form the government. According to Lokesh Sharma, PRO at the Governor’s house, the swearing-in ceremony will be held on December 17.
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