Rajasthan Election Results: Ashok Gehlot has been the chief minister of Rajasthan twice earlier
Highlights
- Ashok Gehlot has been the chief minister of Rajasthan twice earlier
- Sachin Pilot said he had a "good meeting with Rahul Gandhi, sources said
- He has argued that most of the newly-elected legislators back him
Sachin Pilot today appealed to Congress workers for "peace and decorum" amid reports of protests on the highway in the tense race for the post of Rajasthan chief minister. Two-time chief minister Ashok Gehlot was emerging as the party's choice, sources said after Rahul Gandhi met the two leaders in Delhi.
But Sachin Pilot has reportedly refused to stand down quietly.
As the wait for an announcement dragged on, there were reports that Congress workers were protesting at Karauli in Rajasthan.
"I appeal to party workers to maintain peace and decorum. I have full faith in the leadership, we will welcome whatever Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi decide. It is our responsibility to uphold the honour of the party, we are dedicated to the party," Sachin Pilot tweeted.
Rajasthan Election Results: Between Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot, the Congress faced a touch choice in choosing the Rajasthan chief minister.
Sachin Pilot, 41, is credited with rebuilding the party when "not a shade of grass for the Congress", in his words. He was made Rajasthan Congress chief after the Congress washout in the 2013 state election.
A former union minister in the Manmohan Singh government, he argues that most of the 99 Congress lawmakers in Rajasthan want to see him as chief minister.
As the wait for an announcement dragged on, there were reports that Sachin Pilot's supporters were protesting on a highway in Rajasthan
On Tuesday, as votes were counted in Rajasthan, the victory was not as emphatic as Sachin Pilot and the Congress had anticipated. The party's tally stopped at 99, one short of a majority. That made it critical for the party to make a careful choice, with the national election in mind.
Ashok Gehlot, who was first handpicked for Rajasthan by Rahul Gandhi's father Rajiv Gandhi, is known to be a skilled political manager, a qualification critical to the party as it preps for the national election just six months away.
The son of a magician, Mr Gehlot is in charge of several party panels and training. He is known for his sardonic humour.