World | India
Gehlot gets ready for second innings at helm in Rajasthan
Ashok Gehlot, the main architect of the Congress' comeback in Rajasthan, is all set to play his second innings as chief minister after he was named leader of the state Congress legislature party on Thursday evening.
- IANS
- Published: 00:20 December 13, 2008
Jaipur: Ashok Gehlot, the main architect of the Congress' comeback in Rajasthan, is all set to play his second innings as chief minister after he was named leader of the state Congress legislature party on Thursday evening.
Sources in the Congress said 82 of the 96 elected MLAs supported Gehlot's name as their leader in the legislature party meeting.
All India Congress Committee observer Digvijay Singh named Gehlot the leader after meeting the newly elected MLAs and seeking advice from party president Sonia Gandhi.
"Gehlot has unanimously been chosen leader of the legislature party," Digvijay Singh told reporters. The 57-year-old Gehlot was chief minister 1998-2003.
Gehlot will take oath today along with cabinet colleagues.
The Congress wrested Rajasthan from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the assembly elections, winning 96 seats in a house of 200. Gehlot spearheaded the party's campaign and toured the state extensively holding hundreds of public meetings at various places.
Comeback
It is a major comeback for Gehlot who was thought to be responsible for the worst electoral defeat of the Congress party in Rajasthan in the assembly elections of 2003.
After his name was declared as the leader of the party, Gehlot told reporters that he would provide a transparent and sensitive government, and work to fulfil the promises made in the party's election manifesto.
There were lots of fireworks at the Pradesh Congress Committee office here after Gehlot's name was selected.
He was greeted by slogan shouting supporters, and some lifted him on their shoulders.
His official residence in the Civil Lines area of the city was thronged by hundreds of his supporters, who came with flowers and garlands to greet their leader.
The roads leading to Gehlot's residence were choc-a-bloc and policemen had a tough time controlling the traffic.
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