Congress leaders Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot, both contenders for the Chief Ministerial post in Rajasthan, on Tuesday expressed confidence that their party will form the government in the state with a comfortable majority and said the decision on a new Chief Minister will be taken by party chief Rahul Gandhi.
“Congress will definitely form the government,” Gehlot told the media here. Asked who will be the next Chief Minister, he said Gandhi will decide on that.
“Ask this question to Rahul Gandhi,” Gehlot, a former Chief Minister, said, adding the decision will be taken in accordance with the wishes of the newly-elected MLAs.
“There is a clear tradition in Rajasthan. There will be a meeting of legislators and their views will be taken. The central leadership has full authority. The face will emerge,” the senior Congress leader said.
Gehlot further said that the Congress has already won the mandate in Rajasthan. “Numbers can go up and down but public’s mandate is in the favour of Congress,” he said.
He also welcomed independent candidates and parties other than the BJP who wanted to support the Congress.
Rajasthan Congress chief, Sachin Pilot said, “The struggle of Congress workers and the people is being reflected in the results. We won 21 seats last time. People were unhappy over the way they faced hardships. They were unhappy with the state government and the Central government.
“The road-map we presented was appreciated and Rahul Gandhi campaigned energetically. Congress workers worked unitedly. I am grateful to people for their blessings.”
He said the party will also form its governments in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.
Regarding a new Chief Minister, Pilot said, “The Congress high command and the MLAs will collectively decide”.
“Today is a decisive day and Rahul Gandhi became Congress chief on the same day last year. And what can be a better gift than the party forming its governments in three BJP-ruled states?” he said.
(With inputs from IANS)