Aspirants for Raj, Chhattisgarh CM posts rush to high command; overt consensus on Kamal Nath for MP

It is now Congress chief Rahul Gandhi’s call to decide the Chief Ministers for Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh as differences emerged in the legislatures party meetings of all these States where the Congress staked claim to form Governments.

The Chief Ministers would be declared in the Congress Legislatures Party (CLP) meetings in all three States on Thursday morning and thereafter the party leaders would convey the decision to Rahul following which he would take the final call.

Congress sources said the high command may chose former Union Minister Kamal Nath to take over as Chief Minister in MP while Rajasthan strongman Ashok Gehlot may be favoured over Sachin Pilot for the CM post in Rajasthan.

Sources said after the CLP meet both Gehlot and Pilot are likely to be in Delhi on Thursday  to meet the party high command to iron out differences.

In MP, Jyotiraditya Scindia is likely to take it easy and propose the name of party heavyweight Nath’s candidature for the CM post. Nath has already patched up with another Congress strongman and former Chief Minister Digvijay Singh, who has a strong base in the State. Congress leader Shobha Oza said in Bhopal, “All the MLAs have unanimously decided that a decision on the Chief Minister (of Madhya Pradesh) will be taken by Rahul.”

Bhupesh Baghel and TS Singh Deo are locked in keen tussle for the CM’s chair in Chhattisgarh. Congress’ Lok Sabha member Tamradhwaj Sahu’s name also figured in the evening before the party decided for the legislature party meeting in the presence of AICC observers Mallikarjun Kharge, AICC incharge for the State PL Punia and other senior leaders.

Making the choice of CM in Rajasthan is going to be tough task for Rahul.

Following the differences, Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting in Rajasthan passed a single-line resolution authorising the party president to decide the name of the Chief Minister.

While the CM’s name was yet to be finalised due to disagreements, Congress delegation met Rajasthan Governor Kalyan Singh to stake claim to form a Government. A Congress MLA said there could be another meeting of the CLP on Thursday morning to resolve the deadlock.

“We have full majority and have staked claim to form a Government. We will take along all non-BJP parties and elected members who are against the BJP and are willing to support us,” Pilot said after the CLP meeting in Jaipur.

Asked about the choice of the Chief Minister, Pilot said the party’s newly elected MLAs will debate the question, and the party president will take a decision after that.

Rajasthan Congress MLA Vishvendra Singh has expressed disagreement over the process of seeking opinion of party legislators to select the Chief Ministerial candidate in Rajasthan when the party president will decide the face for the coveted post.

Both Pilot and Gehlot, both front runners for the post, were present in the meeting. Congress observer KC Venugopal held consultation with the party MLAs and feedback will be shared with the party president and then the announcement of the Chief Minister’s name would be made.