Assembly Elections 2018: Rajasthan set for 'Game of Thrones' finale

Two days before Rajasthan Assembly election results are announced on Tuesday, state Congress leaders with chief ministerial aspirations are making a beeline to New Delhi, hoping to impress their credentials upon the central leadership. PCC chief Sachin Pilot and AICC general secretary Ashok Gehlot, who were already in Delhi, were joined by Leader of Opposition Rameshwar Dudi, who arrived in the national capital on Sunday afternoon.

Pilot and Gehlot met UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi individually at her residence on Saturday, the eve of her 72nd birthday, and discussed the party's strategy with regards to government formation.

Sources in the party said that Sonia indicated to both leaders that government formation will depend on the number of seats the party wins. A comfortable majority could see Pilot as chief minister, while an experienced hand like Gehlot can cobble up the numbers if the party fails to get the magic number of 101 seats in the 200-member Assembly. Elections were held in 199 seats.

With exit polls indicating the Congress will return to power, several leaders have been holding meetings since two days.

This weekend also saw additional informal meetings. Senior party leaders from the state, including Raghu Sharma, Pramod Jain Bhaya and Mahendra Jeet Singh Malviya, called on Pilot at his residence in New Delhi and held informal discussions.

Later, these leaders, along with Juber Khan, Ramesh Meena, Krishna Punia and Ashok Chandna, also met Gehlot at Congress headquarters at 24 Akbar Road. With the arrival of Dudi in Delhi, it now appears that the party high command wishes to discuss and take feedback from him too on government formation.

Sources said Dudi has been sidelined in the inner circles of the party after his suggestions were rejected during ticket distribution. Pilot and Dudi reportedly had an altercation over tickets to candidates on selected seats, which resulted in the latter's absence from the launching of the party manifesto in Jaipur which fuelled speculations about his differences with Pilot. So, even as top party leaders reached New Delhi on Saturday, Dudi took one additional day to do so.

It wasn't clear whether he went to Delhi of his own accord or if he was summoned by the party high command. "All leaders from the state are reaching Delhi to meet party leaders. There is nothing abnormal in Dudi landing here," said a senior leader who is also present in the capital.

3 LEADERS IN 1 DAY

• Pilot and Gehlot met UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi individually at her residence on Saturday & discussed the party’s strategy about government formation. 
   
• Leader of Opposition in the Rajasthan assembly Rameshwar Dudi also arrived in the national capital on Sunday afternoon.