Ahead of the pivotal meeting to assess the party's performance in the recent Rajasthan assembly polls, Congress leader and Rajasthan caretaker CM Ashok Gehlot criticised the BJP's delay in announcing Chief Ministerial candidates for three Hindi heartland states - Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Rajasthan - on Saturday. Gehlot said, "There is no discipline in this party. If we had done the same, I don't know what allegations they would have leveled against us and misled people. They polarized the polls... We will cooperate with the new government," he told news agency ANI.
Responding to Gehlot's remarks, Rajasthan BJP chief CP Joshi said, "If Ashok Gehlot thinks he has forgotten 2018 when government formation took 16 days. Our central observers have been appointed, and a meeting of the legislative party will be held soon. I want to ask Gehlot sahib why hasn't a decision been taken on the name of Leader of Opposition yet?" ANI quoted him as saying.
Gehlot, participating in a meeting to review the party's performance in the Rajasthan assembly polls, commented on the delay in announcing the Rajasthan BJP CM face. He stated, "If Congress had not selected a CM for this long, then they would have shouted a lot," ANI reported.
Regarding the Gogamedi case, Gehlot highlighted the need for the new CM to sign the 'no objection' document for an NIA probe. He urged a swift decision, stating, "For seven days now, they have not been able to select a CM; I want them to take a decision quickly." Gehlot accused the BJP of winning the state assembly election by exploiting religious issues and polarising voters, as per the reports.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and party MP Rahul Gandhi arrived at the All India Congress Committee (AICC) headquarters in Delhi for the crucial meeting on the party's performance in the recent Rajasthan assembly polls.
Rajasthan Congress leader Govind Singh Dotasra, also present in Delhi for the meeting, said that the party's focus is on analysing shortcomings and making corrections for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. "We will deliberate on the reasons behind why we could return to power in the state," he said, as reported by ANI.
Separate meetings were held on Friday by Congress leaders to review losses in Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh, with state unit chiefs providing detailed reports. Rahul Gandhi and other senior leaders attended the meeting, which was called by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge. The election results in four states, particularly in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh, dealt a significant blow to the Congress's 2024 ambitions, leaving the party out of power across the Hindi heartland. In Rajasthan, the BJP won 115 seats, while the Congress received 69, defying pollster predictions. Read the full report here.