By- BANIBRATA DATTA
#RajasthanPoliticalCrisis | INC advises all leaders of the party to “refrain from making public statements against any other leaders or about Party’s internal matters.” The party also warns of “strict disciplinary action” if any violation of this advisory is made.
Sachin Pilot meets Congress chief Sonia Gandhi at her residence
Congress leader Sachin Pilot reaches party chief Sonia Gandhi’s residence for a meeting hours after Ashok Gehlot withdrew his nomination for presidential polls.
Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot is set to meet Sonia Gandhi on Thursday as the Congress president elections race heats up. Congress leader Digvijaya Singh entered the race for the party president.
Shashi Tharoor is also expected to file his nomination on September 30 to contest in the party president elections.
Follow all the live updates on Congress president elections here:
Ashok Gehlot is likely to meet Sonia Gandhi as the Congress president elections race Heats up.
Sachin Pilot meets Congress chief Sonia Gandhi at her residence
Congress leader Sachin Pilot reaches party chief Sonia Gandhi’s residence for a meeting hours after Ashok Gehlot withdrew his nomination for presidential polls.
Polls symbol of Congress’ internal democracy: Chhattisgarh CM Baghel
“Tomorrow is the last day of filing nominations. Let’s see how many people file it. You and I have the same curiosity that who’ll file nominations and who’ll withdraw their nominations after scrutiny,” says Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel on Digvijaya Singh filing nomination for Congress presidential polls.
“Polls are being held in our party and this is a symbol of our internal democracy. We didn’t even know when did JP Nadda become the BJP president again,” he said.
‘Nehru-Gandhi family to remain our leader’: Digvijay Singh ahead of filing nomination for Congress prez polls
“I’m here to file (nomination) form, and then i’ll return to join Bharat Jodo Yatra. Every PCC delegate has right to contest president elections. I’ve not discussed my nomination with Nehru-Gandhi family. I met many senior leaders including AK Antony, Kharge Ji,” said veteran leader Digvijaya Singh whose contesting for Congress presidential polls.
“The Nehru-Gandhi family will remain our leader. Whoever becomes the party president will work under their leadership…Our priority is to see how the situation in the country improves, won’t let the country divide or the constitution weaken,” he said.
Digvijaya Singh to get 12 MLAs as proposers for his nomination in Congress prez polls
A total of 12 Congress MLAs from Madhya Pradesh will be proposers for veteran leader Digvijaya Singh when he files nomination for the Congress president’s election, a party leader said on Thursday.
Gehlot says ‘up to Sonia ji’ if he remains Rajasthan CM
“It is up to Sonia Gandhi ji if I remain CM,” Ashok Gehlot told media persons after announcing withdrawal from Congress President Polls.
Gehlot to not contest Congress prez polls, apologises to Sonia Gandhi
Ashok Gehlot says he profusely apologised to Sonia Gandhi for what happened in Rajasthan. He said, “I will regret for life that I couldn’t get resolution passed.”
Gehlot also confirmed he will not contest for Congress President Polls.
Congress president elections: Digvijaya Singh confirms Congress president poll bid, to file nomination tomorrow
Veteran Congress leader Digvijaya Singh on Thursday confirmed his entry to the race for party chief post days after Rajasthan witnessed a high-voltage drama over the candidature of chief minister Ashok Gehlot. Speaking to reporters at the AICC headquarters in Delhi, Singh said he was there to collect the nomination papers, adding that he will likely file the nomination on Friday.
INC President Elections: Ashok Gehlot likely to meet Sonia Gandhi Today
Chief minister Ashok Gehlot is likely to meet Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Thursday in an attempt to resolve the crisis triggered in Rajasthan after lawmakers close to him opposed his rival Sachin Pilot’s elevation to the state’s top job. The lawmakers sought their say in choosing Gehlot’s successor if he gets elected as the party chief. They opposed Pilot’s elevation citing his rebellion against the chief minister in 2020.
Rajasthan Congress crisis: The embattled Congress high command made further attempts on Thursday to find a solution to the Rajasthan crisis. CM Ashok Gehlot met the party’s interim chief Sonia Gandhi at her residence earlier in the day and apologized for the MLAs’ fiasco. He also told reporters that he will not contest the Congress presidential polls citing “moral responsibility”.
The two leaders who are the focal points of the looming crisis that brought Congress to its knees – Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot – reached Sonia Gandhi’s residence – 10, Janpath – late Thursday evening for a reported “crucial meeting”.
Sonia Gandhiji reportedly leaves her Residence
As Sachin Pilot reached Sonia Gandhi’s residence, CM Gehlot reportedly reached there too, from the back gate. Amid this, FTFMI reporters spotted Sonia Gandhi leaving her residence. She is reportedly headed to Priyanka Gandhi’s house.
Sachin Pilot talked to reporters after the meeting, and said, “I met Congress president today. She listened to me calmly. We held a detailed discussion on whatever happened in Jaipur, Rajasthan. I told her my sentiments, my feedback. All of us want to win the 2023 polls (in Rajasthan) by working hard. We’ll have to work together.”
Quick updates on the Rajasthan crisis vis-a-vis Congress Presidential polls
Digvijaya Singh, Congress leader to make it freshly official that he will be contesting the presidential polls, collected his nomination papers earlier in the day. Singh said in the evening that “The Nehru-Gandhi family will remain our leader. Whoever becomes the party president will work under their leadership…Our priority is to see how the situation in the country improves, won’t let the country divide or the constitution weaken.”
While Singh said he would file his nomination on Friday, it remained unclear whether he or someone else would have the backing of Sonia Gandhi as her successor, with sources saying a Dalit candidate could emerge as a dark horse for the top party post.
Shashi Tharoor, who will file his nomination on the last day on Friday, had a meeting with Singh and the two leaders said theirs would not be a contest of rivals but of friends and the Congress will finally win.
Sources said Mallikarjun Kharge is being considered as a frontrunner for the post and will be meeting Gandhi Friday morning. The names of Mukul Wasnik and Kumari Selja are also doing the rounds.
After the unprecedented Rajasthan crisis, the Congress high command also issued a notice stating that strict disciplinary action will be taken against leaders making public statements on internal matters of the party and against other party functionaries.
Party general secy K C Venugopal said that Sonia would take a decision on who would be the Rajasthan CM in “a day or two”. On the Presidential Election, he said things would become clear by Friday afternoon when the Nomination process would End.
