After hectic discussions, the Congress on Friday announced that senior leader Ashok Gehlot will be the chief minister of Rajasthan and the other aspirant, Sachin Pilot, his deputy.
Congress president Rahul Gandhi late on Thursday night announced that senior leader and former Union Minister Kamal Nath will take charge as the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh.
Here are the updates:
Rajasthan Congress legislature party to meet shortly
The Congress legislature party meeting will be held at a hotel here on Friday evening, a party leader said.
The MLAs will be apprised of the party high command to appoint senior leader Ashok Gehlot as the chief minister of the state and Sachin Pilot as the deputy chief minister, the leader added.
After the meeting, a delegation comprising Gehlot and Pilot will head to Raj Bhawan to hand over over the list of MLAs to Governor Kalyan Singh, the leader said.
The schedule of the swearing-in ceremony is yet to be finalised, the leader said further.
- PTI
Congress rubbing salt into wounds of 1984 riots’ victims: Akali Dal
The opposition Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) Friday protested in the Punjab Assembly the Congress’ decision to appoint Kamal Nath as Madhya Pradesh chief minister, saying the Rahul Gandhi-led party was rubbing salt into the wounds of victims of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.
SAD MLA Bikram Singh Majithia raised the issue in the state Assembly a day after his party colleague Manjinder Singh Sirsa alleged in Delhi that Nath had a hand in the anti-Sikh riots that broke out in the national capital following the assassination of then prime minister Indira Gandhi in 1984.
Mr. Majithia said the Congress was rubbing salt into the wounds of victims of the riots by naming Nath as Madhya Pradesh chief minister.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Brahm Mohindra claimed that Mr. Nath had no role in the 1984 riots. He also showed a picture in his mobile phone purportedly of former chief minister Parkash Singh Badal felicitating Kamal Nath at an event in the past.
Cong. team to meet Rajasthan Governor at 7:00 p.m
Congress observer for Rajasthan K.C. Venugopal announces the name of Rajasthan Chief Minister designate, at party headquarters in New Delhi on Friday.
Senior Congress leader and former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has been named as the Chief Minister of Rajasthan. Rajasthan Congress chief Sachin Pilot will be his deputy.
The decision was taken by Congress president Rahul Gandhi after holding hectic discussions with both the leaders.
A Congress delegation will meet Rajasthan Governor at 7:00 p.m. to apprise him of the Congress Legislature Party leader's name and stake claim to form a government.
Senior Congress leader Ashok Gehlot arrives at AICC headquarters in New Delhi on Friday.
As the news spread, Mr. Gehlot's supporters in Jaipur, who have been camping outside his residence, erupted in joy.
Rahul hints Rajasthan CM issue settled
In a sign that the leadership question in Rajasthan has been settled, Mr. Gandhi posted a photograph of him flanked by Mr. Gehlot and Mr. Pilot.
The photograph of the smiling leaders had a caption “United Colours of Rajasthan!”, without giving any hint as to who will be the chief minister.
Mr. Gandhi tweeted the photo.
- IANS
Kamal Nath to be sworn in as MP CM on Dec. 17
Congress leader Kamal Nath.
Mr. Kamal Nath will be sworn in as the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh on December 17.
He met Governor Anandiben Patel in the Raj Bhavan to stake claim to form a government.
The party won 114 seats in the 230-member House, the poll results of which were declared on December 11.
It has secured the support of SP 1, BSP 2 and four independents to cross the majority mark of 116 seats.
Rahul may hold fresh talks with Gehlot, Pilot
The Congress president is likely to hold a fresh round of discussions Friday with Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot, the two chief ministerial aspirants in Rajasthan, before taking a final call for the top post.
The decision of Rajasthan’s next chief minister was likely to be taken before noon and would be made public at a meeting of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) in Jaipur, sources said.
Party’s central observer for Rajasthan K C Venugopal told PTI , “It is up to the Congress president to take a final call and the decision is being awaited.”
AICC general secretary in charge of Rajasthan Avinash Pande told PTI ,” Congress president heard everyone and after wide consultations he will take the final decision which will be acceptable to all.”
Who will be the CM of Rajasthan?
The choice of chief minister of Rajasthan is proving to be tough for the Congress, as supporters of Rajasthan unit chief Sachin Pilot and former chief minister Ashok Gehlot were locked in an intense battle. As emotions spilled over into the streets, both leaders appealed for calm on social media on Thursday.
While Mr. Pilot is credited with reviving the party after its rout in 2013 Assembly polls and decimation in the Lok Sabha polls in 2014. The Hindu has learnt that senior Congress leaders leaned on former party chief Sonia Gandhi to back Mr. Gehlot as they considered him better placed to run a coalition government, given the party’s wafer thin lead in the 200-member Assembly.
The Congress’s decision on Chhattisgarh, where it has to choose amongState Congress chief Bhupesh Baghel, former Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly T.S. Singh Deo and party’s OBC wing chief Tamradhwaj Sahu, is likely to be taken later in the day.
Shah charts out punishing agenda for LS polls
BJP president Amit Shah exhorted party office-bearers to have “single-minded focus on the 2019 polls”, terming the party’s loss in the Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, “not a defeat of the BJP”.
Mr. Shah made these remarks at the conclusion of his marathon eight-hour review meet with central office-bearers and State organisational secretaries held in New Delhi.
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