Trouble for Ashok Gehlot? Rajasthan minister says will not oppose if Sachin Pilot is made chief minister

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot is expected to contest Congress presidential polls.
Ashok Gehlot

Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot

Photo : IANS
KEY HIGHLIGHTS
  • Congress has issue notification for its president poll
  • Rahul Gandhi said one-man, one-post commitment expected to be maintained in the party
  • Congress leader Gourav Vallabh slams Shashi Tharoor, backs Ashok Gehlot for AICC chief
Jaipur: Rajasthan minister Rajendra Gudha, considered close to Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, has said that the six Bahujan Samaj Party (legislators), who joined Congress would not oppose if Gehlot becomes the Congress president and Sachin Pilot is made the CM in the state.
Gudha is one of the six BSP turned Congress MLAs.
The Minister of State for Panchayati Raj and Rural Development clearly stated that he is not with any face and said the six BSP-turned Congress MLAs would support anyone whom the Congress high command chooses to be chief minister in Rajasthan.
Gudha's reaction came after Congress MP Rahul Gandhi advocated for the "one-man, one-post" concept in line with the party's Chintan Shivir reforms.
Rahul Gandhi's emphasis on 'one person, one post' norm was seen as a veiled message to Ashok Gehlot, who is expected to contest the election to the party president’s post.
"Jo humne Udaipur mein decide kiya, woh Congress party ka ek commitment hai. Toh I expect that commitment will be maintained (What we decided in Udaipur that was Congress party's commitment. I expect that commitment will be maintained),” the Congress Lok Sabha MP said while addressing a press conference in Kochi.
Gandhi's statement was a clear indication that Gehlot may have to quit as chief minister if he becomes the Congress president. However, it would be intresting to see whether Gehlot, would be able to get a person of his choice to the top post in Rajasthan government, or Pilot would be given the nod by the party high command.
When he was asked to give his advice to those contesting the Congress president election, Gandhi said, "You are taking on a position, which is a historic position, and it is a position that defines and has defined a particular view of India. The Congress President is not just an organisational post, the Congress president is an ideological post."
"It is a belief system. So, my advice would be that whoever becomes Congress president should remember that he represents the set of Ideas, he represents a belief system and he represents a vision of India," Gandhi added.
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