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Assembly Elections 2018: CLP meeting in Rajasthan leaves congressmen high & dry

Deliberations on CM candidate inconclusive; ball in Rahul’s court

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Sachin Pilot, Ashok Gehlot
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When an irked Congress vice-president and Deeg-Kumher legislator emerged out of the Congress Legislative Party (CLP) meeting questioning the need for the congregation when the decisive mandate was to come from the party leadership in Delhi, he was not off-roading with his observation.  

At the end of the daylong brainstorming, peppered with many an anxious moment, closed-door-meetings between the two CM contestants, and frenzied chants of Congress workers, the decision on the chief ministerial candidate of Rajasthan was left to AICC president Rahul Gandhi. The MLAs unanimously decided to hand the matter over the party leadership in New Delhi for a final call on the matter.  

On expected lines, the newly elected Congress legisalators filed out of the meeting, some still huddled inside, as the time allotted by the governor of Rajasthan to the party approached nearer. Till reports last came in the Congress was unable to select the CLP leader and a decision from the party high command in New Delhi was awaited.

Closed-door meeting 

When hectic parlays between the Gehlot and Pilot factions failed to arrive at a unanimous decision, Gehlot and Pilot shared a dialogue behind closed doors. “The two leaders went inside a room and had a discussion for about 10 minutes after which it was decided to leave the decision-making to AICC president Rahul Gandhi.

Observer seek opinion

Earlier, during the CLP meeting, all elected representatives passed a unanimous proposal giving final authority to Rahul Gandhi to take a decision on the CLP leader. However, a formal process to know the mandate of each MLA on the CLP leader was also carried out after The AICC observer KC Venugopal insisted on conducting the process. 

“Venugopal recorded the opinions of every MLA before conveting the unanimous decision to the party high-command,” a source said. Several leaders were candid in their choice of leader, while there were some who refused to name anyone suggesting only the party high-command should take the final call.

Discontent among MLAs

Some legislators felt the election process of CLP leader is “good for nothing” as the MLAs already gave veto power to the party high-command. Deeg-Kumher MLA Vishvendra Singh questioned the process. “We have passed a proposal giving authority to Rahul Gandhi to take decision. Why are the MLAs then being asked to vote?,” he asked. Bharat Singh Kunderpur also raised the issue. But was of the view this is a tradition, a source said.

Deputy CM formula

Sardarshahar MLA Bhanwer Lal Sharma hinted the discussion on the nomination of deputy chief minister had taken place in the CLP. “They are trying to break a rupee into two coins of 50 paisa each,” he said.

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