New Delhi: Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot has agreed to contest the election of Congress President. He said that he would fulfill the responsibility given by the party and if the party tells him, he would file a nomination for the post of Congress President, as reported by the news agency PTI. Meanwhile, Gehlot has arrived at 10 Janpath Road in the national capital Delhi to meet Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi, news agency ANI reported.
Gehlot, who reached Delhi, also said that he would go to Kochi to make his last attempt to persuade Rahul Gandhi to take over the post of party president.
"The party and high command have given me everything. I have been on posts for 40-50 years. For me no post is important, I will fulfil any responsibility given to me," he said.
He also asserted that not only the Gandhi family, but scores of Congress members have faith in him.
"I am very fortunate that I have got love and affection of Congressmen and women across the country and they have faith in me," Gehlot said.
"Therefore, if they ask me to fill the form (nomination), I will not be able to refuse...Will speak with friends. I was given the responsibility of being Rajasthan chief minister, I am fulfilling that responsibility as a CM and will continue to do so," said Gehlot, who was here to meet party chief Sonia Gandhi.
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On whether keeping the two posts of the CM and party president could be an infringement of the party's pledges in Udaipur, Gehlot said that applies when the high command nominates people, while the presidential polls were an open political decision and anyone among the 9,000 PCC delegates, regardless of whether that individual is MP, MLA or serve, can contest.
Referring to an example, he said assuming a minister in a state represents Congress president's political decision, that individual can remain to serve and furthermore contest polls.
"Time will tell where I remain. I would like to stay where the party benefits from me, I will not back down," he asserted when asked if he would remain CM along with being party chief.
Gehlot said he wants to serve Congress, wherever he is useful, be it Rajasthan or Delhi.
"Party has given me everything, post is not so important for me. If it is up to me, I would not take any post, I would join Rahul Gandhi in the Bharat Jodo Yatra looking at the situation in the country, the Constitution is being destroyed, democracy is in danger. They (the BJP) are destroying the country," he said.
The notification for the election of Congress President will be issued on September 22 and the process of filing nominations will go on from September 24 to 30. The last date for withdrawal of nominations is October 8. In case of more than one candidate, voting will be held on October 17 and results will be declared on October 19.
(With PTI Inputs)