As most of the exit polls in Rajasthan is giving thumbs up for Congress, while predicting setback to the Incumbent Vasundhara Raje. The biggest question that is making rounds across Rajasthan Political Streets is ‘Who will be the Chief Minister in the State’ if Congress is voted to power’?
The Grand Old Party has never declared a Chief Minister Candidate in any state before the results, following the same tradition Congress has not named anyone as its CM prospect Candidate in Rajasthan Assembly Polls too!
The Frontrunners for the Chief Minister Post in the state includes Congress Veteran Leader and two-time state Chief Minister, Ashok Gehlot and Pradesh Congress Chief Sachin Pilot. Both the Congress leaders represent two different generation of Indian Politics.
Ashok Gehlot
On One side, Congress General Secretary Ashok Gehlot who has served as the Chief Minister in the state from 1998-2003, and then in 2008-2013. Gehlot has contested the 2018 polls from Sardarpura Constituency in Jodhpur, the home turf of Congress staunch supporter. Ashok Gehlot is the only leader in the State Congress who has never changed his constituency.
Five-time Parliamentarian, Gehlot met Indira Gandhi in 1971 during East Bengali Refugee Crisis. The then Prime Minister appointed Ashok Gehlot as the first state president of State National Students Union Of India’s (NSUI’s) President, a student wing of the party. The Current General Secretary of the Party has taken many responsibilities on his shoulders during his political career since the 1970s.
Gehlot Comes from a mali Community which doesn’t add to the population with a heavy percentage but his experience, politics is more than enough to tilt the argument in his favor.
Ashok Gehlot says Party is a priority for him and not the CM Post
Sachin Pilot
The Other face who is in the race for Chief Minister Post might lack in experience with the former but its popularity in the Youth across the state is something that has a played crucial role in cementing the stage for Congress in the Rajasthan Assembly Polls. The 41-year-old Sachin Pilot, son of Congress Veteran Leader Rajesh Pilot is Congress State Chief in the state.
Sachin Pilot toured the state extensively in last 4 years. Pilot belongs to Gujjar Community which has significant voting percentage across the state.
He has been in among front faces while attacking the incumbent Vasundhara Raje during the whole Electioneering.
Two-time Parliamentarian, Pilot is contesting his maiden assembly election this year from Muslim Dominated Tonk against the BJP lone Muslim face Younus Khan. He has a strong claim to be the CM candidate due to his appeal among the youth in the state. The state Congress President has worked hard to strengthen the Congress at the ground level.
It would not be an easy task for the Congress Leadership to choose one between these two. But if sources to be believed Ashok Gehlot has an edge banking on the support of party loyalists.
But only time will tell who would lead the next formed government in the state.
Rajasthan went to polls on December on 7 across 199 out of 200 seats. While polling in Alwar’s Ramgarh is postponed due to the death of a BSP Candidate.
The Counting in the state will take place on December 11 along with other state assembly elections.