THE LEADER of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, has emerged as a frontrunner to be the third candidate for Congress presidency after Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot declared that he is not going to contest for the put up.
Earlier than asserting his determination to drag out “given the state of affairs”, Gehlot met Congress president Sonia Gandhi for about 90 minutes Thursday. He apologised to Sonia for the unprecedented defiance proven by his camp Sunday. He additionally supplied to resign as Chief Minister, The Indian Categorical has learnt.
Following Gehlot’s pullout and apology, which is being seen because the Gandhi household salvaging its delight, occasion sources stated a “darkish horse” with the tacit blessings of the management is prone to emerge because the third candidate — apart from Shashi Tharoor and Digvijaya Singh.
Whereas a ultimate determination has not been taken, Kharge is alleged to have emerged as the brand new face within the race. Sources near Kharge had earlier indicated that he was not averse to contesting however would proceed solely on Sonia Gandhi’s instructions.
There was additionally a buzz in occasion circles about stress on Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to contest. Late Thursday, Sonia drove to Priyanka’s residence and was together with her for over an hour. Some leaders of the occasion’s G 23, in the meantime, met and stated the potential of one in all them contesting can’t be dominated out within the occasion of the management fielding a “dummy” or “proxy” candidate.
The day, nonetheless, was dominated by Gehlot’s assertion in public that he had apologised to the occasion chief — a uncommon such admission by a Chief Minister. Later, his arch state rival Sachin Pilot met Sonia Gandhi after AICC basic secretary Ok C Venugopal stated a choice on Rajasthan will likely be taken in “one or two days”.
Occasion sources identified that the authority of the excessive command and supremacy of the Gandhi household was at stake after the digital revolt in Jaipur Sunday. By getting Gehlot to come back to Delhi, publicly apologise to Sonia Gandhi and depart the selection of his successor in Rajasthan to her, the excessive command has re-established its authority, a celebration chief advised The Indian Categorical.
In accordance with sources, it was clear that Gehlot was advised to say what he stated, and it was additionally conveyed to him {that a} determination on Rajasthan will likely be taken by Sonia Gandhi. As Gehlot bowed out, veteran Digvijaya Singh collected a set of nomination varieties and declared his intention to file his papers Friday, the final day for doing so. Lok Sabha MP Shashi Tharoor will even file his nomination papers Friday.
Throughout their assembly, Gehlot advised Sonia, who had signalled to him to contest for the occasion put up, that he too was dismayed and pained by the occasions that unfolded in Jaipur Sunday. Later, rising from one other assembly with Sonia, Venugopal, when requested about Rajasthan, stated, “Gehlot has already stated that this will likely be determined by the Congress president. The Congress president will give a choice inside one or two days.”
Ready at his Delhi house, watching the developments unfold, was Sachin Pilot. “We mentioned the occasions in Rajasthan intimately,” Pilot stated after his hour-long assembly with Sonia. “I’ve conveyed my sentiments, given my suggestions to Sonia Gandhi. Our precedence is to win the 2023 meeting polls in Rajasthan for which we must work collectively,” he stated.
Requested in regards to the management’s plan for Rajasthan, he stated, “No matter optimistic choices must be taken with respect to Rajasthan, the Congress president will take.”
Throughout the occasion, a number of interpretations are being drawn from Gehlot’s assertion that he takes “ethical accountability” for the CLP assembly fiasco in Jaipur when round 90 MLAs loyal to him stayed away and held a parallel assembly of their very own. The CLP meet was imagined to cross a one-line decision authorising the Congress president to take a choice on the following CM.
After his assembly with Sonia, Gehlot declared that he had been a loyal soldier of the occasion all his life, from the time of Indira Gandhi. “I used to be all the time trusted and given duties, be it that of a Union minister, PCC president, AICC basic secretary. And with Soniaji’s blessings, I grew to become the CM for the third time,” he stated.
The incident that occurred on Sunday “shook all of us”, Gehlot stated. “A message went throughout the nation that I wished to stay as Chief Minister, and that’s the reason (all that) occurred. I’ve apologised to Sonia… I really feel sorry.”
On the aborted CLP assembly, he stated, “One easy decision… one-line decision… It’s our custom to cross that one-line decision (authorising the Congress president) when a choice is to be made on a CM. Sadly, that decision couldn’t be handed.”
He stated, “As a result of I’m the CLP chief and Chief Minister, and I couldn’t get that decision handed, regardless of the causes could also be, it’s my ethical accountability… For the primary time, a decision couldn’t be handed in step with our custom. I’ll all the time remorse it, all my life… I advised Soniaji that.”
On contesting for the Congress president’s put up, he stated, “I’ve determined that, below the circumstances, I cannot contest. That’s my determination.” On whether or not he’ll stay Chief Minister, he stated, “Sonia Gandhi will take that call.”
Later, the leaders of the G 23 — none of them had signed Tharoor’s nomination papers — met at Anand Sharma’s residence amid hectic conferences by the management to discover a third candidate. Amongst these current have been Prithviraj Chavan, Manish Tewari and Bhupinder Singh Hooda.
Sources within the group stated the potential of one amongst them contesting can’t be dominated out. Late at night time, Sharma drove to Jodhpur Home, the place Gehlot is staying, and held a gathering with him.
Among the many different potential contenders, Madhya Pradesh Congress president Kamal Nath had made it clear that he was not interested by contesting.