Ashok Gehlot is new Rajasthan CM LATEST updates: Congress leaders will on Friday evening meet the Rajasthan governor and will decide on the details of the oath-taking ceremony. "We will form the government with a big mandate in 2019," Congress leader Sachin Pilot said after being named Rajasthan deputy chief minister. The chief minister of Rajasthan will be Ashok Gehlot," Congress announces. Addressing the media, KC Venugopal said that the leadership has reached the decision after many deliberations. Sachin Pilot may be the Rajasthan deputy chief minister, CNN-News18 quoted sources as saying. Rahul Gandhi appears to have attempted to strike a balance between the two most prominent Congress leaders in the state. Ashok Gehlot is the Congress’ pick for Rajasthan chief minister, sources said Friday, after party president Rahul Gandhi appeared to have successfully brokered peace. On Thursday, Sachin Pilot supporters had burnt tyres and blocked roads in Rajasthan, demanding his appointment as the next chief minister. Gehlot was speaking to the media before the start of a meeting at the residence of Congress President Rahul Gandhi in the presence of state Congress chief Sachin Pilot, the other main contender for the post. Reports have confirmed that Ashok Gehlot, senior Congress leader, will be the next Rajasthan chief minister. Congress president Rahul Gandhi held fresh round of discussions on Friday with Gehlot and Sachin Pilot, the two chief ministerial aspirants in Rajasthan, before taking a final call for the top post. The decision of Rajasthan’s next chief minister is likely to be taken before noon and will be made public at a meeting of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) in state capital Jaipur, sources said. After several rounds of discussions that lasted till Thursday midnight, Congress veteran Gehlot has emerged as a front runner for the top post, while Pradesh Congress Committee president Pilot is being placated in attempts to broker peace between the two. [caption id=“attachment_5730531” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]
Rahul Gandhi with Ashok Gehlot (L) and Sachin Pilot (R). Twitter/@RahulGandhi[/caption] Party’s central observer for Rajasthan K C Venugopal told PTI, “It is up to the Congress president to take a final call and the decision is being awaited.” Congress leaders feel once the MLAs in the state have authorised Gandhi to take a decision on the chief minister, leaders should not challenge the high command and accept the decision. Pilot, 41, is still reported not on board on Gehlot’s name, which is delaying the announcement, the sources said. The PCC chief has put up a stiff resistance and his staking his own claim for the top post. AICC general secretary in-charge of Rajasthan Avinash Pande told PTI," Congress president heard everyone and after wide consultations he will take the final decision which will be acceptable to all." Gandhi is likely to meet Pilot and Gehlot, 67, again at his residence in attempts to broker peace, like he did in the case of Madhya Pradesh where Kamal Nath was declared as the next chief minister amid hectic parleys held by the Congress chief with senior party leaders in the national capital Thursday night. The Congress leadership want Gehlot and Pilot to be present together at the CLP meet. Sources said the Congress top brass was upset with the manner in which party workers resorted to arson and violence in the state in a bid to exert pressure on the party to name Pilot. They said this the first time such incidents have been reported in Rajasthan and the party has taken the matter seriously. The incidents of violence were reported in Jaipur, Dosa and other parts Thursday following which the Congress leadership asked both Pilot and Gehlot to issue appeal for peace. The party leaders feel the infighting in Rajasthan should end soon and called an amicable solution in the manner Jyotiraditya Scindia gracefully accepted the Congress’s decision in Madhya Pradesh
Rajasthan CM announcement updates: Ashok Gehlot named for top post; Congress leaders to meet governor today evening
Congress leaders will on Friday evening meet the Rajasthan governor and will decide on the details of the oath-taking ceremony. Ashok Gehlot has been named the chief minister.
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Ashok Gehlot had faced opposition in race for CM chair earlier as well
Ashok Gehlot, who emerged on Friday as his party’s choice for the chief minister’s post in Rajasthan, faced serious opposition in the race to the chief minister’s post in 1998 and 2008 as well, with Jat leaders in the Congress opposing him.
On both occasions, he overcame the opposition to be named by the Congress as the chief minister.
This time, however, the challenge from Pradesh Congress Committee president Sachin Pilot has been tougher.
After the jockeying for power since the results of the 7 December Assembly polls came in on Tuesday, the Congress picked him over Pilot on Friday afternoon to head the state government.
In December 2008, Jat leaders like the then Union minister Sis Ram Ola, former Rajasthan Speaker Parasram Maderna and newly elected MLA Sonaram had openly raised the demand for a Jat chief minister. Gehlot is from the Mali community.
The then Pradesh Congress Committee president CP Joshi, who later became Union minister after winning the 2009 Lok Sabha elections, also had chief ministerial aspirations.
But he lost the 2008 assembly election with a margin of just one vote, ruling himself out of the race.
PTI
Congress leaders to meet Rajasthan governor today evening, says KC Venugopal
Congress leader KC Venugopal said that the party would meet the Rajasthan governor on Friday evening and decide on the details of the oath-taking ceremony.
‘Will form govt in 2019:’ Sachin Pilot
“We’ll form the government with a big mandate in 2019,” Sachin Pilot has said after being named Rajasthan deputy chief minister.
Sachin Pilot thanks Rahul Gandhi for making Ashok Gehlot chief minister
Sachin Pilot said at the press conference, “I would like to thank Congress President Rahul Gandhi and other legislators for taking this decision to make Ashok Gehlot the Chief Minister of Rajasthan.”
Sachin Pilot ‘young, dedicated leader’, says Congress
The Congress has heaped praise on Sachin Pilot as well, terming him a “young, dedicated leader”, while announcing his name as the deputy chief minister
Congress terms Gehlot ‘stalwart’
The Congress has made the official announcement on its Twitter handle and has termed Ashok Gehlot as a “stalwart” of the party.
It’s official; Ashok Gehlot is the new Rajasthan Chief Minister
“The chief minister of Rajasthan will be Ashok Gehlot,” Congress announces. Addressing the media, KC Venugopal said that the leadership has reached the decision after many deliberations.
Portfolios to be split equally between Gehlot, Pilot supporters
Sources have also told CNN-News18 that portfolios will also be split equally between supporters of Gehlot and Pilot. Striking a balance between youth and experience will be key for the Congress ahead of the Lok Sabha election.
Sachin Pilot to be Deputy CM
Sachin Pilot may be the Rajasthan deputy chief minister, CNN-News18 quoted sources as saying. Rahul Gandhi appears to have attempted to strike a balance between the two most prominent Congress leaders in the state.
Ashok Gehlot likely to be Congress’ pick
Ashok Gehlot is likely to be the Congress’ pick for Rajasthan chief minister, sources said Friday, after party president Rahul Gandhi appeared to have successfully brokered peace between the veteran leader and his younger colleague Sachin Pilot following several rounds of discussions.
“The united colours of Rajasthan,” Gandhi said in a tweet along with a photograph in which the three leaders were seen in a jovial mood.
Sources said Gehlot’s name is likely to be announced as the party’s pick for the post in the evening.
Gandhi has met the two leaders separately thrice since Thursday and is learnt to have decided the chief ministerial face in the state.
There have been hectic discussions between top party leaders, including Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, on the selection of chief ministers for Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.
Senior party leaders K C Venugopal, Avinash Pande and Jitendra Singh were also present during the meeting Friday.
With inputs from PTI
Indecision on CM face had led to violence in Rajasthan
On Thursday, Sachin Pilot supporters had burnt tyres and blocked roads in Rajasthan on Thursday, demanding his appointment as the next chief minister.
As the Congress leadership in Delhi deliberated over the chief minister’s post, groups of people tried to stop traffic at places in Dausa, Ajmer and Karauli districts, police said.
PTI
Rahul Gandhi met Pilot, Gehlot thrice before deciding on CM face
Rahul Gandhi met Sachin Pilot and Ashok Gehlot separately thrice since Thursday and is learnt to have decided the chief ministerial face in the state.
Though ANI claimed that Rahul has picked Gehlot, and his name will be announced officially at 4.30 pm today, the delay irked supporters of both Pilot and Gehlot.
There have been hectic discussions between top party leaders, including Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, on the selection of chief ministers for Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.
Senior party leaders K C Venugopal, Avinash Pande and Jitendra Singh were also present during the meeting Friday.
With inputs from PTI
Official announcement expected at 4.30 p.m.
The official announcement is expected at 4.30 p.m. It is expected to put an end to two days of intense speculation and turf wars over the chief minister’s chair in Rajasthan.
“Crucial decisions always take time”: Gehlot said earlier today
“Crucial decisions always take time,” Congress leader Ashok Gehlot had said on Friday, commenting on why the name of Rajasthan Chief Minister had not been announced yet.
Gehlot was speaking to the media before the start of a meeting at the residence of Congress President Rahul Gandhi in the presence of state Congress chief Sachin Pilot, the other main contender for the post.
Rahul Gandhi’s sister Priyanka Gandhi was present at the meeting.
Gehlot said the BJP had no right to comment on the issue as that party took seven days to select their state head in Uttar Pradesh. Similarly, in Maharashtra, they took nine days to choose a Chief Minister.
IANS
RECAP: Sachin Pilot supporters had created a ruckus on Thursday
As deliberations for the next chief minister went on Thursday and Ashok Gehlot’s name emerged as Rahul Gandhi’s pick, supporters of Rajasthan Congress president Sachin Pilot blocked roads, burnt tyres in protest.
According to the police, groups of people had tried to stop traffic at places in Dausa, Ajmer and Karauli districts. Protesters blocked the Jaipur-Agra highway at Dausa for some time, burning old tyres. There was a similar disruption on the Jaipur-Ajmer highway and attempts to block traffic on other roads, PTI had reported.
In most cases, the protesters were from Pilot’s Gujjar community. Pilot had urged his supporters to remain calm and maintain decorum.
RECAP: Sonia Gandhi had insisted on Ashok Gehlot as next Rajasthan CM: PTI
According to PTI, Sonia Gandhi is understood to have counselled Rahul Gandhi over relying on “experience” as it was a verdict with a narrow margin of victory and a seasoned leader would be better equipped to deal with a situation in which the party would need the backing of MLAs belonging to BSP and Independents, who won 13 seats. Most of them are Congress rebels.
Ashok Gehlot to be next Rajasthan CM, official announcement shortly
The name of 67-year-old Ashok Gehlot, a two-time chief minister, is expected to be announced by the party. Both Gehlot and Sachin Pilot had met Rahul Gandhi at his residence in Delhi on Thrusday where he was joined by his mother and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.
The deliberations went on till late night on Thursday, however, no official announcement was made. On Thursday, Congress leader KC Venugopal, who is also the party’s election observer for Rajasthan, had told news channels that Rahul met all the contenders for the post of chief minister, and that a decision will be announced on Friday.
PTI had reported on Thursday that though Rajasthan Congress president Sachin Pilot had given up after putting up a spirited claim for the post.
The picture, though had became clear on Thursday evening with Pilot, who stayed put in Delhi, appealing to party workers to maintain peace and saying that he would “welcome” any decision that will be taken by the party.
— With inputs from PTI
United Colours of Rajasthan: Rahul Gandhi tweets picture of Gehlot, Pilot
Rahul picks Ashok Gehlot as new Rajasthan CM: ANI
Veteran Congress leader Ashok Gehlot to be the next Chief Minister of Rajasthan, sources told ANI.