Election Results LIVE Updates: Parleys continue for Chief Minister’s post in Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh

Background

Bhopal/New Delhi: Congress on Thursday night named veteran leader Kamal Nath as Madhya Pradesh's next Chief Ministeri, even as hectic parleys continued for the other two newly-won states Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh. The tussle between the old and the young guard continued to stymie the selection process for the chief ministerial face in Rajasthan.

Sachin Pilot, 41, reached Gandhi's official residence in Lutyens Delhi for a second time late in night. Soon after Pilot left, 67-year-old Ashok Gehlot also reached the Gandhi residence again, as the party leadership continued to discuss the claims by the two leaders for the top post in Rajasthan. Regarding Rajasthan, Pilot and Gehlot appealed to party workers to maintain peace and discipline, saying they have full faith in the party leadership and would abide by its final decision. After briefing Gandhi, AICC in-charge of Rajasthan, Avinash Pande, told media: "We have given a detailed report on the views of party MLAs to the Congress president, who will take a final call on chief ministers. The decision will be announced at the legislature party meeting in Jaipur." Elected Congress MLAs in Rajasthan have passed one-line resolutions authorising Rahul Gandhi to decide on the chief minister. 

Gandhi also held discussions with party leaders in Chhattisgarh Thursday to decide on the new chief minister for the state, the party sources said, but postponed the decision to Friday for holding wider discussions with the contenders. Gandhi will meet T S Singh Deo and Bhupesh Patel, who are among the top contenders for Chhattisgarh on Friday. In Chhattisgarh, some scuffles took place outside the residence of state party chief Bhupesh Baghel (57), who is one of the contenders apart from leader of opposition in outgoing assembly T S Singh Deo (66), OBC leader Tamradhwaj Sahu (69) and party veteran Charan Das Mahant (64).

Rahul's sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also visited his house while intense parleys were on earlier in the day, but there was no confirmation whether she was a participant. As hours went by without an announcement, tension and sloganeering had risen among supporters of various contenders, spilling into violence in some areas of Rajasthan.

13:02 PM (IST)  •  14 Dec 2018

Congress president Rahul Gandhi holding fresh round of discussions with Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot, the two chief ministerial aspirants in Rajasthan, before taking a final call for the top post.

12:44 PM (IST)  •  14 Dec 2018

In some of the districts of Rajasthan, despite Sachin Pilot's appeal to maintain peace, ppl in his support are still protesting.

12:42 PM (IST)  •  14 Dec 2018

Despite Sachin Pilot's appeal to maintain peace, ppl in his support are still protesting in some of the districts of Rajasthan..

12:40 PM (IST)  •  14 Dec 2018

Ashok Gehlot, Congress on #Rajasthan CM: Decision is not being delayed, BJP is spreading lies. BJP took 7 days in U… https://t.co/TxIBgNcAbv

12:05 PM (IST)  •  14 Dec 2018

Sachin Pilot, Ashok Gehlot reaches INC Chief Rahul Gandhi’s house to debate on a new chief minister for Rajasthan. Supporters of both Pilot and former CM Ashok Gehlot are indulging in a contest of sloganeering outside the party office in Jaipur.