At a time when Congress president Rahul Gandhi is emphasising a blend of the young and old in the ranks, veteran leader Ashok Gehlot has said the youth needed to rise in the party hierarchy by proving their worth rather than undermining their seniors.

The AICC general secretary, incharge of Gujarat and former Rajasthan chief minister said Gandhi was like a teacher who wants his students to draw longer lines without erasing the existing ones. Rahul ji has been saying this since the very beginning that one has to move forward with the experience of old leaders and the energy of young leaders. I feel that he meant the new leaders should draw a longer line than the existing one drawn by the veterans, Gehlot said.

Carrying on further with the teacher-student analogy, he said Gandhi did not want the earlier lines to be erased, but get extended. Rahul Gandhi’s real thought is that of this teacher. He wants new young leaders to draw longer lines instead of removing or erasing the lines drawn by senior leaders. Those youngsters who have not understood this are now facing problems in various states,” he said.

Gehlot said ever since Gandhi had become Congress president, he had been stressing the need for “discipline and performance”. “One can’t impress Rahul Gandhi with mere talk. One has to deliver and prove one’s credibility through hard work. Whether you are an asset or liability for the party, he is focussing on that,” the former CM said. Gehlot, who recently aided Congress’ power performance in Gujarat, also said he would abide by whatever decision the party leadership took in election-bound Rajasthan.

Asked if he was in favour of a chief ministerial candidate be declared in Rajasthan, Gehlot said, I dont mind. Personally, I have left the issue of leadership to the high command. Be it Gujarat or Rajasthan, this issue is to be decided by the high command.

It is their privilege. He said, “This question ends when I say that whatever decision the high command takes in the interest of the party, it will be acceptable to all.

The AICC general secretary said the Congress mostly goes to polls with a collective leadership and the high command decides on that after talking to those elected and factoring in public opinion and the contribution of a leader. In rare cases, if the high command wants, it can declare anyone anytime as the leader in the state, said the former five-time MP and two-time CM.

To a question on why the Congress lost Gujarat despite coming so close to the finishing line, Gehlot said it was because Prime Minister Narendra Modi evaded “real issues” and made it a personal battle by raking up trivial matters. The BJP has lost Gujarat even after victory and the Congress has won the state even after defeat, Gehlot said.

The Congress veteran also lauded Gandhi for changing the perception of the people about the so called Gujarat Model.

“In Gujarat we managed to demolish the false perception of a development model created by Mr Modi, said Gehlot. He added that he had never asked the party for “anything” and had still been entrusted with important tasks.

Since 1977, when I came into electoral politics, I have never asked for a party ticket. I have been a five-time MP, three-time central minister with Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi and PV Narasimha Rao, three-time PCC president of Rajasthan, two-time AICC general secretary and a chief minister for 10 years,” he said.

I never lobbied for any post or requested anyone. Without asking for anything, I have been trusted with so much , entrusted with responsibilities, said the Rajasthan Congress strongman.