Two-time chief minister Ashok Gehlot will be chief minister of Rajasthan, sources in the Congress have told NDTV. An official announcement on the matter will be made soon, they added.
This morning, Rahul Gandhi had a one on one meeting with the two top contenders; Pradesh Congress Committee president Sachin Pilot and former chief minister Ashok Gehlot at his residence.
The Congress legislature party (CLP) in Rajasthan on Wednesday passed a single-line resolution authorising party president Rahul Gandhi to decide name of the chief minister.
In all the three states where Congress has emerged victorious signalling a newfound energy in the party ranks to stop the BJP juggernaut before the 2019 general elections, the newly-elected MLAs met in the presence of party's central observers, while party leaders also met governors in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan to stake government formation claims.
Here are the highlights on the Rajasthan Assembly election result and Congress' meet with Rahul Gandhi to decide the next chief minister:
The two most powerful warriors are patience and time.
- Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) December 13, 2018
- Leo Tolstoy pic.twitter.com/MiRq2IlrIg
Rajasthan: Supporters of Sachin Pilot block road in Karauli. pic.twitter.com/AlcUQntL0C
- ANI (@ANI) December 13, 2018
- Two-time chief minister Ashok Gehlot was the next to meet Rahul Gandhi.
- The 67-year-old - who, as a young upcoming leader was handpicked for Rajasthan by Rahul Gandhi's father Rajiv Gandhi - walked out of that meeting with a figurative spring in his step. He took a flight back to Jaipur.
- Sachin Pilot, a former union minister in the Manmohan Singh government, did not go down without a fight.
- He repeatedly argued that most of the 99 newly-elected Congress lawmakers in Rajasthan wanted to see him as chief minister.
- Sources say Ashok Gehlot, a seasoned leader, had the support of party leaders who are more concerned about the 2019 national election.
- The Congress general secretary is in charge of several party panels and training.
Ashok Gehlot or Sachin Pilot? Rahul Gandhi's Rajasthan decision today
- NDTV (@ndtv) December 13, 2018
Read more here: https://t.co/5wj3r57FBY
For LIVE updates on #RajasthanElections2018 follow https://t.co/v8W6o6f1dN#AssemblyElections2018 #ResultsWithNDTV pic.twitter.com/jHiDUyztRO
#AssemblyElections2018 | Congress President Rahul Gandhi on chief ministerial pick: "We are taking inputs from different people in the party - from MLAs, from workers... of course you have to see a Chief Minister soon"#ResultsWithNDTV pic.twitter.com/6RSednqeMa
- NDTV (@ndtv) December 13, 2018
Observers have taken everyone's opinion, in a peaceful way. Congress President Rahul Gandhi had to take a decision, observers have arrived in Delhi. A discussion will be held and the decision will be taken today.
Ms Mayawati added that her party's aim is to keep the BJP out of power. And that is why they have decided to support the Congress in Madhya Pradesh.
- Congress made a stunning comeback in Rajasthan winning 99 of 199 seats.
- Sources in the party say Ashok Gehlot has emerged as the front-runner for the post. Another popular choice for Rajasthan's next chief minister is Sachin Pilot.
- Rajasthan has a 200-member assembly, but polling on Alwar's Ramgarh constituency was postponed following the death of the Bahujan Samaj Party candidate.
- Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday said the selection of chief ministers in the three states will be done "smoothly".
- Mr Gandhi also said that the party effectively "ironed out" tensions among the leaders within the party in various states ahead of the elections.
