Amidst victory celebrations in Rajasthan, Congress holds meeting to select CM

December 12: Congress made a stunning comeback in Rajasthan winning 99 of 199 seats. Top leaders of the Congress will meet today to discuss and decide who will be the next chief minister of Rajasthan. Sources in the party say Ashok Gehlot has emerged as the front-runner for the post. As many as 13 of 19 ministers in the outgoing Vasundhara Raje government have lost the Assembly elections in Rajasthan as results and trends brought electoral reverses for the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

The Congress’ victory celebrations in Rajasthan were all about careful optics as its two top leaders in the state, a generation apart, displayed complete harmony and togetherness despite speculation of a tussle over who will be chief minister. Three-time chief minister Ashok Gehlot drove to his younger colleague and state Congress chief Sachin Pilot’s home. Then the two posed for photos, their fingers splayed in a victory sign.

Elections done and a victory in the bag, the Congress in Rajasthan today proceeds to its next challenge — who will be chief minister, old warhorse Ashok Gehlot or state party chief 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. In 2013, the BJP won 163 seats and the Congress 21. With 101 seats this time, the Congress has had a significant rise of 80 seats. The drop for the BJP was massive too – going down 89 seats when compared with the previous assembly polls.Congress rebels who won the elections would be supporting the party in the formation of government, a party leader has said. Sources in the party say Ashok Gehlot has emerged as the front-runner for the post.