After hours of negotiations, Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Friday approved the name of Ashok Gehlot as the new chief minister of Rajasthan with Sachin Pilot being made the deputy CM.
Moments before the Congress observer for Rajasthan, KC Venugopal, officially announced the decision, Gandhi took to Twitter to post a photo of himself with Gehlot and Pilot. The caption read, “The united colours of Rajasthan!”
The united colours of Rajasthan! picEar.twitter.com/D1mjKaaBsa
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) December 14, 2018
Earlier on Thursday, Gandhi had held several rounds of discussions with both Gehlot and Pilot before arriving at a decision. Venugopal had earlier said that a decision on who will be the next chief minister of Rajasthan will be made public on Friday.
The date of swearing in ceremony will be announced later after Gehlot’s meeting the Governor.
The Congress on Friday congratulated both Gehlot and Pilot on Twitter. It said, “@ashokgehlot51 a stalwart of the Congress party has been elected CM of Rajasthan. We wish him the best as he takes on this new appointment with vigour, sincerity & a commitment to our democratic values.”
.@ashokgehlot51 a stalwart of the Congress party has been elected CM of Rajasthan. We wish him the best as he takes on this new appointment with vigour, sincerity & a commitment to our democratic values. pic.twitter.com/eMvwuZYMM9
— Congress (@INCIndia) December 14, 2018
As for Pilot, its tweet read, “Our best wishes to Shri @SachinPilot, the new Deputy CM of Rajasthan. A young & dedicated leader, he is sure to bring development, peace & happiness to the people of Rajasthan.”
Our best wishes to Shri @SachinPilot, the new Deputy CM of Rajasthan. A young & dedicated leader, he is sure to bring development, peace & happiness to the people of Rajasthan. pic.twitter.com/0UlcCDESFl
— Congress (@INCIndia) December 14, 2018
While Gehlot, a veteran Congress leader, has held the post in Rajasthan in the past, Pilot has been tirelessly working on the ground for several years to rebuild the organisation. It seems the Congress leadership went in favour of experience, just like Madhya Pradesh, where they preferred veteran Kamal Nath over young Jyotiraditya Scindia.
Gehlot had played an active role in the Congress campaign during the Gujarat assembly polls last year, when the party nearly upstaged the ruling BJP. He was subsequently brought to Delhi and made party’s general secretary and in-charge of ‘Organisation and Training.’
The Congress had won 100 out of 199 seats in the just-concluded assembly polls in the state.