New Delhi:
The hectic parleys continued in the game of thrones in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, as Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday remained busy taking inputs from MLAs and workers ahead of the final announcement on the chief ministerial face. However, sources said that senior Congress leader Ashok Gehlot leads the race to become the next chief minister in Rajasthan while Congress state chief Bhupesh Baghel, former Opposition leader TS Singh Deo are among the top contenders in Chhattisgarh.
Sachin Pilot who was another front-runner for the CM face is likely to be made the Deputy Chief Minister of Rajasthan, according to sources. Congress leader Deo, Chhattisgarh party chief Bhupesh Baghel and Charan Das Mahant are also scheduled to arrive in Delhi on Friday morning. Post that, Congress president Rahul Gandhi will take the final call on the chief ministerial face in Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan.
Gehlot(67), the two-time chief minister of Rajasthan enjoys the trust of party leaders who are leaving no stone unturned to win big in 2019 Lok Sabha election. He was handpicked for Rajasthan by Rahul Gandhi's father Rajiv Gandhi.
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Pilot, the Rajasthan Congress chief, on the other hand, did not go down without a fight and argued that most of the 99 Congress lawmakers in Rajasthan wanted to see him as chief minister.
With deliberations continued inside, supporters of each contender were also heard raising slogans and flashing banners in support of their respective leaders - out the party offices in Rajasthan. Pilot's supporters raised slogans outside Gandhi's office and also blocked the NH-21, demanding him to appoint as the new chief minister.
As suspense mounted on who would get the top post in both the states, Congress legislature party (CLP) on Wednesday passed a single-line resolution authorising party president Rahul Gandhi to decide the name of the chief minister.
Read | Ashok Gehlot, Sachin Pilot urge Congress workers to maintain peace in Rajasthan
On Tuesday, December 11, the Congress emerged victorious signalling a newfound energy in the party ranks to stop the BJP juggernaut before the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. While the Congress bagged 99 seats in Rajasthan, in Chhattisgarh it was a clean sweep with as many as 68 seats in 90-member Legislative Assembly.
Polling to Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan legislative assemblies took place in November and December 2018 respectively.
