New Delhi, Dec 10: With number of state leaders
vying for chief ministership in Rajasthan, Congress President
Sonia Gandhi tonight grappled with the issue along with senior
leaders on the eve of the state legislature party meeting.
Gandhi`s deliberations came after claims and counter
claims by several leaders for the top job.
Emerging from the meeting, AICC General Secretary
Digvijay Singh and AICC General Secretary in-charge of
Rajasthan Mukul Wasnik told reporters that the Congress
Legislature Party meeting would be convened at 3 pm tomorrow
and the MLAs will take a decision about the new leader.
"By tomorrow evening, it would be decided (Chief
Minister)", Singh said.
He said the decision of the MLAs would be conveyed to the
party President and the new name announced.
Asked from which caste would the new CM be after several
Jat community leaders staking their claim for the top job in
the state, Singh said, "Congress does not do politics of caste
or community".
On a question whether it would only be a MLA who could
become the Chief Minister, Singh said all the issues would be
decided only in the CLP meeting.
Apart from Singh, senior leaders Madhusudan Mistry and
Chaudhary Virender Singh would be the central observers in the
CLP meeting.
Former Chief Minister and AICC general secretary Ashok
Gehlot has emerged as the front runner for the post.
Gehlot, who spearheaded the campaign of the party in
Rajasthan, is being challenged by Union Minister Sis Ram Ola,
former PCC President Girija Vyas, PCC President C P Joshi and
senior leaders B D Kalla and Narayan Singh.
Richhpal Mirdha, son of senior leader R N Mirdha also
lost the polls and is out of contention for the post making
matters easier for Gehlot.
Bureau Report
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