Page 10 - Ashok Gehlot

Person who has support of MLAs will be next CM: Rajasthan minister

Amid the fast-paced political developments in Rajasthan, Food Minister Pratap Singh Khachariyawas on Sunday said democracy runs on numbers and whoever has the support of MLAs will be the state's next chief minister. He also said that Congress MLAs reaching the assembly speaker's house should not be seen as a rebellion by the party high command. High drama unfolded in Rajasthan as a group of Congress MLAs loyal to Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot reached Speaker C P Joshi's residence earlier on Sunday to submit their resignation ahead of a legislature party meeting which was called to decide on his successor. The development suggested a worsening power struggle between the chief minister and Sachin Pilot, who was tipped to be Gehlot's replacement after he declared his candidature for the Congress president's post. The group of MLAs earlier held a meeting at Minister Shanti Dhariwal's residence, which was seen as an attempt to thwart the possibility of Pilot being made the next chief ...

Gehlot loyalists plunge Rajasthan Cong in crisis, give resignation letters

The Congress in Rajasthan plunged into a crisis Sunday as several MLAs loyal to Ashok Gehlot submitted resignation letters over a possible move to appoint Sachin Pilot as the next CM, their rebellion erupting just ahead of a Congress Legislature Party meeting. The loyalists headed to Speaker C P Joshi's home after a long meeting in the evening at minister Shanti Dhariwal's residence, saying they were resigning as MLAs. All this while, at the chief minister's home, Gehlot and Congress observers Mallikarjun Kharge and Ajay Maken waited for all legislators to arrive for the CLP meeting. Pilot and his supporters came but the meeting was a washout. Gehlot loyalists claimed that over 90 MLAs went to Joshi's home, but the number could not be verified independently. The Congress has 108 MLAs in the House of 200. There was no word from the Speaker's office on the resignation letters. Late at night, there were efforts by Kharge and Maken to persuade Gehlot loyalists to meet them one on one

Crisis in Rajasthan Congress as Gehlot-loyalist MLAs threaten to resign

High drama unfolded in Rajasthan Sunday evening as a group of Congress MLAs loyal to Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot headed to the assembly speaker's residence to submit their resignation ahead of a legislature party meeting which was likely to pick his successor. The development suggested a worsening power struggle between the chief minister and Sachin Pilot who was tipped to be Gehlot's replacement after he declared his candidature for the Congress president's post. Congress observers Mallikarjun Kharge and Ajay Maken, along with Gehlot, reached the chief minister's residence where the Congress Legislature Party meeting was to be held. Pilot reached there separately. About 25 legislators were present there, sources said. However, a large group of MLAs loyal to the chief minister who held a meeting at Minister Shanti Dhariwal's residence decided to go to Speaker C P Joshi's residence to submit their resignation. "We are going to the speaker's residence in a bus and will submit our ...

Gehlot loyalists meet ahead of CLP meeting, want him to remain CM

Ahead of the Congress Legislature Party meeting on Sunday evening, MLAs considered close to Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot met under the leadership of Cabinet Minister Shanti Dhariwal in what is seen as a message to the high command to pick a Gehlot loyalist as his successor. Gehlot is expected to quit as the chief minister of Rajasthan if he wins the election to the post of the Congress national president, as the party has a 'one-man one-post' policy. The meeting is also seen as an attempt to thwart the possibility of senior party leader Sachin Pilot being made the next chief minister. Some participants said Gehlot's successor should be someone who was instrumental in saving the government during the political crisis in 2020 and not someone who was involved in toppling it, a veiled reference to Pilot. Gehlot and Pilot were at loggerheads for the chief minister's post soon after the Congress won the Assembly elections in December 2018. The high command then chose Gehlot as the chief .

'New generation should get chance now': Gehlot fuels leadership change buzz

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Sunday said he has held constitutional posts for 40 years and the new generation should get a chance now, virtually admitting an imminent change of guard in the state. Gehlot, who has announced contesting for the post of Congress president, made the remarks during to a visit to Jaisalmer to offer prayer at the Tanot Mata Temple, in an indication that the Congress may choose Sachin Pilot as his successor in the state. Later in the day, a meeting of the Congress Legislature Party is scheduled to be held at his residence in Jaipur. "I have said it earlier as well. No post is important to me. I am doing politics for last 50 years. I have remained on some constitutional post or other for 40 years. What more I can get and want. So, it is in my mind that the new generation should get a chance and we all will together give a leadership in the country," Gehlot told reporters in Jaisalmer. Gehlot said the media reported that he did not want to leave t

CLP meeting at CM Gehlot's residence today amid leadership change buzz

The Congress has called a meeting of its legislature party in Rajasthan at Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot's Jaipur residence at 7 pm on Sunday, amid the leadership change buzz following the announcement that he will contest the party president poll. Congress president Sonia Gandhi has appointed Mallikarjun Kharge as observer along with general secretary in-charge Rajasthan Ajay Maken. They will attend the meeting of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) of the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly, AICC general secretary organisation K C Venugopal said on Saturday. Earlier in the day, Maken met Sonia Gandhi and discussed issues related to Rajasthan in detail. This is the second CLP meeting within a week. The last meeting was held on September 20. Sources said the leadership of the government going forward, if Gehlot is elected as party chief, is likely to be on the meeting agenda. Gehlot became the first person to announce his candidature for the AICC presidential poll on Friday and said for

Rajasthan govt approves Rs 100 cr additional package for small industries

Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot has approved an additional package of Rs 100 crore for a scheme to promote small industries, which will help the government expand its coverage and smooth operation, an official statement said. In the budget 2022-23, the chief minister had proposed Rs 150 crore for the 'Mukhyamantri Laghu Protsahan Yojana' to encourage Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the state and ensure easy access of loans to small businessmen and investors. In pursuance of the budget announcement, Gehlot has approved an additional budget provision of Rs 100 crore, the statement said.

Have decided to contest for Congress president's post: Raj CM Ashok Gehlot

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Friday made it clear he will fight for the party's president post and said irrespective of the outcome, it is necessary to work in a united manner and ensure the party emerges as a strong opposition. Any call on his successor to head the Rajasthan government will be taken by party interim President Sonia Gandhi and Congress' Rajasthan in-charge, Ajay Maken, he told reporters here. "I will fix the date (to submit the nomination papers) after going (back to Rajasthan), but I have decided that I will have to contest. It is a question of democracy and let us make a new start," he said. With speculations rife that Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor is likely to jump into the fray, Gehlot said other "Congress friends" may also contest but what matters is unity and the need to strengthen the organisation at all levels. "There are Congress friends. Even if they contest, there is no issue. After the results, we should work together to strengthen th

Ashok Gehlot announces his candidature for AICC presidential polls

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot became the first person to announce his candidature for the AICC presidential poll on Friday, a day before the nomination process begins, and said Rahul Gandhi has told him that no one from the Gandhi family should become the next party chief. He also said the call on his successor to head the Rajasthan government will be taken by the party's interim president, Sonia Gandhi, and the Congress's Rajasthan in-charge, Ajay Maken. Gehlot's remarks came a day after former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi batted for the "one-man, one-post" concept in the party, in line with the Chintan Shivir reforms earlier this year. With Shashi Tharoor likely to be the second contender and the names of several others also doing the rounds for joining the fray, Gehlot said the aim should be that all Congress members work together after the poll to strengthen the party. Talking to reporters in Kochi, the 71-year-old leader said, "I will fix the date (to submit the nominat

We will not oppose if Sachin Pilot is made CM: Raj minister Rajendra Gudha

Rajasthan minister Rajendra Gudha, one of the six BSP turned Congress MLAs, on Thursday said they would not oppose if Sachin Pilot is made the chief minister in case Ashok Gehlot becomes the party president and quits the CM post. Gudha, who is Minister of State for Panchayati Raj and Rural Development and considered close to Gehlot, cleared his stand that he is not with any face and said the six MLAs would support anyone whom the party high command chooses to run the government. The statement of Gudha came after former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi batted for the "one-man, one-post" concept in lines with the party's Chintan Shivir reforms amid possibility of Gehlot contesting election for the post of national president of the party. Gandhi's statement made in Kochi created a buzz that Gehlot, who is seen as the frontrunner in the party presidential poll, may have to step down as CM if he becomes the party president. "We are with the decision of the party leadership. Whatever decision

One-man, one-post commitment expected to be maintained: Rahul Gandhi

Gandhi's statement comes amid speculations that Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor might throw their hats into the ring

In Kochi, Rahul Gandhi reminds Congress leaders of one man-one post rule

The statement came after Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot showed interest in running for the post of party chief

Gehlot meets Sonia after hinting he could enter Congress prez poll fray

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot met Congress chief Sonia Gandhi here on Wednesday, hours after he indicated that he may enter the AICC presidential poll fray. Sources said the Congress presidential poll was on the agenda during the discussions between Gehlot and Sonia Gandhi. The Rajasthan chief minister met Sonia Gandhi at her 10, Janpath residence and is expected to fly to Mumbai later in the day. He is expected to reach Kochi on Thursday and make a last-ditch effort to convince Rahul Gandhi to take over the reins of the party. Talking to reporters after landing here from Jaipur, Gehlot, in a clear indication that he could throw his hat in the ring for the Congress presidential poll, said he will file his nomination if the party people wish so and fulfil any responsibility given to him. However, he also said he will make a last-ditch effort to convince Rahul Gandhi to take up the party president's post. Gehlot said he will take decisions with which the Congress is ...

Will abide by wishes of Congress people: Gehlot on party presidential poll

In a clear indication that he is likely to throw his hat in the ring for the Congress president polls, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Wednesday said he will file his nomination if his party people wish so and fulfil any responsibility given to him. However, Gehlot, who is set to go to Kochi later in the day, said he will make one last-ditch effort to convince Rahul Gandhi to take up the party president's post. Speaking with reporters after landing here from Jaipur, Gehlot said he will take decisions with which the Congress is strengthened. "The party and high command have given me everything. I have been on posts for 40-50 years. For me no post is important, I will fulfil any responsibility given to me," he said. He also asserted that not only the Gandhi family, but scores of Congress members have faith in him. "I am very fortunate that I have got love and affection of Congress men and women across the country and they have faith in me," Gehlot said. "Therefore, if the

Gehlot meets party MLAs, hints filing nomination for Cong president post

In a meeting of the Congress Legislature Party, Rajasthan Chief MInister Ashok Gehlot has indicated that he will file his nomination for the post of national president of the party

Will ask Cong MLAs to reach Delhi if I contest for party president: Gehlot

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Tuesday told Congress MLAs that they will be asked to come to New Delhi if he decides to file his nomination for the party president election. But he will first visit Kochi to persuade Rahul Gandhi, who is leading the Congress' Bharat Jodo Yatra there, to contest for the post. Gehlot said this at a Congress Legislature Party meeting at his official residence here, according to a state cabinet minister.

Ahead of Delhi visit, Rajasthan CM Gehlot summons meeting of Cong MLAs

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has called a meeting of Congress MLAs on Tuesday night, a sudden move ahead of his Delhi visit amid speculation that he may contest for the post of party president. The Congress Legislature Party meeting was scheduled to begin at the CM's residence at 10 pm, after a dinner being hosted there for Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar, ruling party sources said. Some party leaders say the meeting is merely meant to discuss the ongoing assembly session. Gehlot will leave for Delhi on Wednesday. He may then proceed for Kochi to participate in the party's Kanyakumari to Kashmir Bharat Jodo Yatra led by Rahul Gandhi. The process of filing nominations for the organisational elections in the Congress begins on September 24 and will end on September 30, and Gehlot is increasingly being seen as a top contender for the post of the party's national president. The Rajasthan CM, however, has so far denied that he is a candidate and said he will try to convince Ra

Gehlot writes to Mann seeking timely completion of Budha Nullah project

Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot wrote a letter to his Punjab counterpart, Bhagwant Mann, drawing the latter's attention to the issue of "untreated water" coming from Punjab into the canals of Rajasthan

Ashok Gehlot, Shashi Tharoor likely to run for Congress President's post

With the process for the Congress Presidential polls opening with the issuance of notification on September 22, it's likely that the main contest will be between Ashok Gehlot and Shashi Tharoor

Will continue with welfare schemes: Rajasthan CM Gehlot on 'Revri' debate

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Sunday said his government will continue with welfare schemes in the state even though the case of political parties promising pre-election freebies is pending before the Supreme Court. Terming social security a top priority of his government, Gehlot questioned that when the prime minister launches such schemes, they are not counted as 'Revri' or freebies. "When we launch welfare schemes, these schemes are called Revri by the PM. We will not care even though the case is pending before the Supreme Court," he said and mentioned his government's Chiranjeevi scheme, free electricity up to 50 units and free mobile phones to women in Rajasthan. The Supreme Court had on August 26 directed listing before a three-judge bench pleas against the practice of political parties promising pre-election freebies, saying it appeared the issues raised before it require an "extensive" hearing. The court order had comes against the backdrop of the freebies versus