The debate on ‘one man, one post’ is unnecessary, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said on Friday as he formally announced his candidature for the Congress presidential election since “nobody from the Gandhi family is contesting”. Mr. Gehlot said the decision on finding his successor to head the Rajasthan government would be taken by party president Sonia Gandhi and Congress’s Rajasthan in-charge Ajay Maken. There has been a leadership struggle in the State for long between Gehlot and Sachin Pilot. Gehlot said once the presidential contest was over, all the leaders would work together to strengthen the party. “Given the situation in the country today, it’s important for the Opposition to become strong and I won’t spare any effort in trying to do so. I would want that all our Congress colleagues, even those who are contesting election, to work together to strengthen the party organisation at the block level, village, district and at the State level on the basis of our ideology,” he said. Mr. Gehlot’s message can be interpreted as an attempt to reach out to Shashi Tharoor, the Lok Sabha member from Thiruvananthapuram, who is expected to be his main rival in the presidential race.
Speaking to reporters at the Sai Baba temple in Shirdi, Mr. Gehlot said his statements on wanting to serve the people of Rajasthan were being interpreted in different ways. “This debate is unnecessary. I have remained silent.” Mr. Gehlot said, “If the media is to be believed, I do not want to relinquish the post of Chief Minister,” adding, “But for sure, I have said this even today and will maintain this even after I fill the nomination form that I belong to Rajasthan. I would like to serve the State for my lifetime. What is wrong in saying this? People take a different meaning out of this. Media interprets it.” Earlier in the day, while speaking to reporters at the Kochi airport after participating in the Bharat Jodo Yatra, Mr. Gehlot made it official that he had joined the fray since Rahul Gandhi made it clear to him that “none from the Gandhi family will be contesting”. He said: “I will decide the date of my filing nomination after I return but it is decided that I will contest. It is about inner party democracy and we are making a new beginning.” On Friday, the party also tried to reinforce its stance of ‘neutrality’ as party communications chief Jairam Ramesh cautioned spokespersons and panellists against taking sides publicly or commenting on any candidate. As per the party’s poll schedule, the process of filing nominations will start on Saturday and will be open until September 30. Polling will be held on October 17, if there is more than one candidate. With the Congress all set to be led by someone who is not from the Nehru-Gandhi family, this story becomes important.
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