Suspense over Rajasthan CM continues as Sachin Pilot puts his claim strongly

Both Pilot and Gehlot flew to Delhi and held meetings with Gandhi at his residence. Pilot reached Gandhi's residence at 10.30 p.m on Thursday.

New Delhi: As Congress President ascertained Kamal Nath’s name for Madhya Pradesh’s Chief Minister, a formal announcement of Rajasthan CM is yet to be made, though veteran Congress leader Ashok Gehlot on Thursday emerged as Rahul Gandhi's pick. The  suspense however continued the with state party chief Sachin Pilot putting up his claim strongly as the two leaders had late night meetings with the Congress President. Unlike with Madhya Pradesh’s leaders Kamal Nath and Scindia, both Pilot and Gehlot had separate meetings with Gandhi.  Party observer for Rajasthan K. C. Venugopal, who was also at the meetings, told the media later that taking decision on leadership was not easy but it will be announced on Friday. "Taking decision on CM is not an easy job. The final decision will be taken tomorrow in a meeting to be held here around 10 a.m.," he said. Both Pilot and Gehlot flew to Delhi and held meetings with Gandhi at his residence. Pilot reached Gandhi's residence at 10.30 p.m on Thursday. The meeting came hours after the leadership issue was settled in Madhya Pradesh, with Gandhi tweeting his picture with Kamal Nath and Scindia, who were both chief ministerial aspirants. The smiling picture carried the line "The two most powerful warriors are patience and time - Leo Tolstoy." Kamal Nath was chosen as the new Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh and both he and Scindia flew down to Bhopal to announce the decision. Party sources said Gandhi is keen to give a similar message for Rajasthan as well. Pilot, who stayed put in Delhi, appealed to party workers to maintain peace and saying that he would "welcome" any decision that will be taken by the party. He issued the appeal on Twitter as reports emerged that Gehlot has been picked by the party leadership to lead the government and that his (Pilot's) supporters were protesting on the streets demanding that Pilot should be made the Chief Minister. The name of 67-year-old Gehlot, a two-time Chief Minister, is expected to be announced by the party on Friday. UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi is understood to have counselled Rahul Gandhi over relying on "experience" as it was a verdict with a narrow margin of victory and a seasoned leader would be better equipped to deal with a situation in which the party would need the backing of MLAs belonging to BSP and Independents, who won 13 seats. Most of them are Congress rebels. The party won 99 seats and with its pre-poll alliance partner it managed to touch the halfway mark in the 200-member Assembly.