Will the Congress presidency slip out of Gehlot’s hands?
The resignation of over 90 MLAs in Rajasthan in protest against any attempt to make Sachin Plot the chief minister, in case Ashok Gehlot has to resign to fight for the Congress presidency—in deference to the party’s one-person-one-post policy—has possibly dealt a deadly blow to the chances of the veteran politician contesting the party election, according to several sources in the party.
According to the sources, Sonia Gandhi is very angry over Gehlot’s (a Gandhi family favourite, which is a very strong reason for the family’s support to his fight for the president’s post) manipulative behaviour. The Congress top brass is reportedly no longer keen on Gehlot filing his nomination.
In the case he is not allowed to file his nomination, two names have emerged as strong contenders: Kumari Selja, a Sonia Gandhi loyalist and KC Venugopal, a Rahul Gandhi loyalist.
Shashi Tharoor has already decided to file his nomination, though it is generally being believed that he will lose to whoever is the Gandhi family-supported candidate.
The drama is only beginning.
