Putting an end to all speculations, Ashok Gehlot (57) was chosen as the Chief Minister of Rajasthan on Thursday, after three days of factional infighting within the Congress. Though Gehlot had served as the CM between 1998 and 2003, a section of leaders from the Jat community had vehemently opposed his nomination. Earlier in the day, there were clashes between Gehlot’s supporters and those of Jat leader and Union Minister Sis Ram Ola. The decision was announced after an intense five-hour discussion involving all the 96 Congress MLAs, senior state leaders, and AICC office-bearers. AICC general secretary Digvijay Singh, who chaired the meeting, said, “Gehlot has been chosen the Congress Legislative Party leader as well as the Chief Minister. The views of all the elected MLAs were taken into consideration before choosing him.” He added that AICC president Sonia Gandhi had been apprised of the decision and had approved of it as well.Gehlot, considered one of the main strategists behind the party’s victory over the Vasundhara Raje-led BJP Government, said, “I promise to provide a transparent and sensitive Government. I will ensure that we fulfil all the promises we made during the election campaign.”The only opposition to Gehlot’s candidature came from a section of the Jat community, led by veteran leaders like Ola and Parasram Maderna, who claimed that the Congress will pay a heavy price in the state’s Jat belt in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections if Gehlot was made the CM. However, according to Singh, Gehlot was chosen as the CM without much controversy. “It was a democratic process, without any secret balloting. AICC observers ascertained the views of all the 96 MLAs and a decision was arrived at,” Singh said. Sources in the party said the MLAs were given a binary choice of either nominating a candidate for the CM’s post or leaving it to the AICC president. Rubbishing reports that the Congress will select two deputy chief ministers to appease the Jat community, Singh said, “No decision about this has been taken so far. These things will come after consulting AICC president Sonia Gandhi.” He added that the party will contemplate the selection of the cabinet later. When asked about the Independents who had declared support to the party, helping them attain a simple majority, Singh said, “As many as 11 MLAs have declared their unconditional support. But there was no need to involve them in this decision.”Gehlot’s ascension sparked off celebrations outside the party headquarters in Jaipur, where his supporters had camped for six hours along with Ola’s supporters. Elaborate security arrangements were made as supporters of both the leaders constantly chanted slogans praising their leader. Earlier in the day, the two groups clashed outside the Khasa Kothi Hotel, where the AICC observers were staying, and the police were called in to disperse them after both factions exchanged blows.
