Assembly Elections 2018: Rahul Gandhi finds 'democratic' solution to choose Chief Minister; takes audio polls
As all eyes are on the next Chief Ministers in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh are on, Congress President Rahul Gandhi has opted a democratic process to elect leaders in the respected states. After 24 hours of Assembly election, 2018 results were declared an audio message from Mr Gandhi has gone to 7.3 lakh party workers across the three states.
"We are taking inputs from different people in the party. We are taking inputs from MLAs, from workers. You will see a Chief Minister soon," Rahul Gandhi quoted saying news agency ANI.
In the audio message, Rahul Gandhi has asked preferred choices for the chief minister in their respective states and congratulated the leaders for the party's victory in the assembly elections in the three heartland states.
"Now I want to ask you a vital question: Who should be the chief minister? Please mention just one name. I'm the only person who would know whom you are naming. No one at the party will know. Please speak after the beep".
“The data will help decide whom the respondents from each state want and already, very clear preferences are emerging from each state,” sources quoted saying NDTV.
"This is what we were waiting for. It is the new Congress -- Listen to your workers first," said a source. In Chhattisgarh, many names are doing rounds including Bhupesh Baghel and TS Singh Deo, Tamradhwaj Sahu, the state's only Congress parliamentarian.
In Rajasthan, the contest is still on as two-thirds of the newly-elected Congress lawmakers want Sachin Pilot to be the Chief Minister of the state. While others are batting for two-time Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot.
The leaders in Madhya Pradesh are divided between party veteran Kamal Nath and Jyotiraditya Scindia, Rahul Gandhi's close aide said.
First published: 13 December 2018, 11:11 IST