With the dates for filing nomination papers for the post of Congress president inching closer, Rajasthan Chief minister Ashok Gehlot on Wednesday met party interim chief Sonia Gandhi at her residence.
Meanwhile, senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor, who had met Sonia Gandhi earlier, met the Central Election Authority (CEA) chairperson Madhusudan Mistry at the party headquarters in New Delhi.
Gehlot arrived in the national capital on Wednesday afternoon to meet Sonia Gandhi.
Speaking to the media at the airport, the veteran leader said, โThe party has given me everything. I have been holding various posts for the last 40-50 years. Posts and positions are not important to me.โ
โToday I am the Chief Minister โฆ I am fulfilling that responsibilityโฆ nibhata rahunga main (I will keep fulfilling that),โ he said.
โIf people want me to fill out the form, I will do so,โ he said, โThe party and high command have given me everything. If it is up to me, I would take no post, I would join Rahul Gandhiโs yatra,โ he said.
When asked about the Udaipur resolution that talked about one family, one post, Gehlot said, โTill the time of filing nomination, one can hold the two posts.โ
โThis election is open to all, and anyone can contest the same. Out of 9,000 delegates, anyone can contest. If any MP, MLA, Minister, or party leader wants to run in the elections tomorrow, they can do so.And if the party feels that I should hold that post, then I would not be able to turn it down,โ he added.
When asked about the possibility of facing Tharoor in the election, Gehlot said, โSuch a contest should happen as there is internal democracy in our party (Congress).โ
He also said that he will once again try to convince Rahul Gandhi during the Bharat Jodo Yatra.
Commenting on the partyโs 3,570 km Bharat Jodo Yatra spearheaded by the former party chief from Kanyakumari to Srinagar, Gehlot also said that in the present situation, Rahul Gandhiโs journey has created uneasiness in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
On the other hand, Tharoor met Mistry at the party office and discussed the nomination procedure and details of the campaign process. He was apprised by Mistry about the tough campaign process, where a candidate cannot lure any voters.
According to sources, Tharoor will file his nomination papers after September 24. Gehlot, on the other hand, will first meet Rahul Gandhi in Kochi on Thursday during the Bharat Jodo Yatra to try to convince him once again to take the responsibility (of being Congress president). And if Rahul Gandhi remains adamant on his decision, then he will file his nomination papers for the top post after September 26.
In the meantime, Gehlotโs former deputy, Sachin Pilot, is already in Kochi. Pilot joined the partyโs Bharat Jodo Yatra along with Rahul Gandhi.
