NEW DELHI: The Congress looks set to edge past the BJP in Rajasthan and may form the next government in the state.
However, who will replace Vasundhara Raje as the next chief minister of the state if the party comes to power could be a tricky decision for Congress president
Rahul Gandhi.
The Congress campaign in the state has been led by two powerful leaders - the warhorse
Ashok Gehlot and Rahul Gandhi's young aide
Sachin Pilot.
All through the campaign, the Congress avoided any response to the obvious question who will be the chief minister if the party wins the assembly elections.
As results trickled in, both the leaders gave a similar guarded response when asked who will be the next CM of the state?
Both Gehlot and Pilot said it will be decided by the party MLAs and Congress president Rahul Gandhi.
Sachin Pilot, who was made the state chief by Rahul Gandhi, has worked very hard to revive the party after the rout it faced in the last assembly elections.
He would want to believe that he is the natural contender to the post of chief minister. But the going may not be easy for him.
Ashok Gehlot is a veteran leader and is too powerful in the state to be overlooked or ignored. The state Congress still has a lot of his loyalists who would root very strongly for him.
Ironically, it could be the margin of victory for the Congress that could decide the next chief minister of Rajasthan.
If the party manages to cross the half-way mark, Sachin Pilot could fancy his chances. However, if it is a hung assembly in the state, the balance could tilt in favour of Ashok Gehlot, who has to his credit the ability of managing several political crises.
Ashok Gehlot could become the natural choice if the Congress has to seek support of regional parties to form the next government in the state.
Both ways, the decision on who would be the next chief minister of Rajasthan could be a very difficult one to take for Congress president Rahul Gandhi.
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