Ashok Gehlot Resign: Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot tendered his resignation to Governor Kalraj Mishra today, acknowledging the electoral triumph of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the state. The BJP has secured victory in 104 seats and is currently leading in 11 others.
Incumbent CM Gehlot conceded defeat for the Congress as the electoral trends indicated that the BJP had crossed the crucial halfway mark. The Congress had pinned its hopes on garnering support from the people of Rajasthan based on the appealing social welfare schemes initiated by Gehlot in the last five years, as outlined in the Congress manifesto.
"Our schemes were robust, and we anticipated forming the government based on these initiatives and pledges," Gehlot stated during a press briefing.
Elections inevitably witness victories and losses, Gehlot remarked, expressing disappointment that the electorate may not have fully grasped the party's communication. He had hoped for a backlash against the BJP, considering what he described as the BJP's use of "aggressive and inflammatory" language during the election campaign, particularly on Hindu-Muslim issues.
Reflecting on the defeat in the three states, Gehlot emphasized the need for introspection. He acknowledged a strategic error in Rajasthan, attributing it to the failure to introduce new faces. However, he clarified that such concerns were not applicable in Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh, debunking the notion that a different set of candidates could have altered the outcome.
"The defeat in the three states is something to be looked into. The problem we had in Rajasthan was not bringing new faces. But this concern was not in Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh. So saying we would have won with some new faces is incorrect," Gehlot asserted. Despite stepping down from the formal post, he affirmed his commitment to public service.
The BJP is likely to secure a commanding victory by winning about 115 out of the 199 seats in the Rajasthan assembly.