With Rahul Gandhi telling him unequivocally that “none from the Gandhi family” will be in fray for the Congress president election, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot is gearing up to file nomination for the organisational polls, as a “decision has been made” on his fighting the battle.
Gehlot made the remarks on Friday, a day after he held discussions with Rahul on the sidelines of Bharat Jodo Yatra in a bid to convince him to change his stand on not returning as party chief.
“I requested him and told him that the Rajasthan unit and others have passed resolutions urging him to take over. I tried my best. He told me that he has made a decision and that none from the Gandhi family will contest. He made it clear,” Gehlot told reporters in Kochi.
Rahul was thankful to those who wanted him to be the party chief but he insisted that a decision has been taken and there will be no change in that.
Asked about the process of choosing his successor in the Rajasthan government, Gehlot said he cannot say what the process will be. He said Congress president Sonia Gandhi and General Secretary in-charge of Rajasthan Ajay Maken will decide when and what will be the process for choosing a new Rajasthan Chief Minister if he gets elected as Congress president.
Gehlot has been hoping to retain chief ministership but Rahul on Thursday made it clear that he expected that the Udaipur decision on ‘one person, one post’ norm will be implemented, effectively sealing the knotty issue. However, the last word is not said as Gehlot will attempt to thwart attempts to install his bete noir Sachin Pilot at the helm and would bargain for his loyalist as his replacement.
He said he will fix the date for filing nominations soon as a decision has been made that he will have to contest.
“Issue is about democracy. We all are going for a new beginning. The Opposition has to be strong in the present situation. For that, we cannot leave any stone unturned. If there is a contest, that is not an issue. After the elections, we all can work together to strengthen Congress at village, block and district levels,” he added.