Cong releases first list of 33 candidates for Rajasthan polls, fields Gehlot from Sardarpura, Pilot from Tonk

New Delhi: Congress on Saturday released its first list of 33 candidates for Rajasthan Assembly elections, naming Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, former Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot, state party chief Govind Singh Dotasra and Speaker CP Joshi.

The party chose to renominate sitting MLAs in 29 seats while four others were chosen to fight constituencies where the BJP has sitting MLAs. The Congress list came soon after BJP released its second list of 88 candidates, taking its total to 124 out of 200 candidates.

Nine candidates are women, while five are ministers. Congress also chose one candidate from Muslim community in its first list.

However, none of the three Gehlot loyalists accused of leading the rebellion in September last year and not allowing a meeting of Congress Legislature Party -- Shanti Dhariwal, Mahesh Joshi and Dharmendra Rathore -- found space in the first list.

Gehlot will seek re-election from Sardarpura while Pilot will fight again from Tonk. Dotasra is fielded from Lachhmangarh and Joshi from Nathdwara while minister Harish Chaudhary will contest from Baytoo and Mamata Bhupesh from the Sikrai-SC seat. Divya Maderna is seeking a second victory from Osian.

The Congress Central Election Committee had met on Wednesday and discussed names for 106 seats but there were differences on a number of seats.

Sources said this delayed the list and the party decided to release a truncated list where there is absolute unanimity. There were reports about top leaders questioning the need for fielding some MLAs, having charges of corruption, again. Both Gehlot and his bete noire Pilot had publicly said they were not opposed to each other's supporters.

Also, Congress General Secretary (Organisation) K C Venugopal denied any rift within the Rajasthan unit and said they have arrived at a decision on 100 seats. "We have different strategies for states where we are in power and where we are in Opposition," he said about not announcing all names for Rajasthan.

He also made light of Gehlot’s comments that even if he wants to let go of chief ministership, the post does not leave him. This was read as Gehlot making it clear that he would press for the post if Congress is re-elected.

“The Chief Minister will be decided as per Congress tradition…Gehlot said something in his own style. Do not distort it,” Venugopal said.