Guwahati: Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot declared on Thursday that he would not run for president of the Congress.
His remarks came after the veteran leader met with party’s interim chief Sonia Gandhi at her residence at 10 Janpath in the national capital. “I met Rahul Gandhi in Kochi and requested him to fight the polls (for Congress President). When he didn’t accept, I said I’ll contest but now with that incident (political crisis in Rajasthan), I have decided not to contest the elections,” CM Gehlot said.
Gehlot also expressed regret for the uproar in Rajasthan that his supporters had caused around a potential leadership change in the state just before Gehlot was about to submit his nomination papers for the Congress chief elections.
Gehlot claimed that everyone had been stunned by whatever had occurred in the state over the previous two days.
“I spoke with Sonia Gandhi, the acting president of the Congress. We were astonished by whatever occurred two days ago. It conveyed the idea that everything occurred because I wanted to be the CM. I expressed my regrets to her, “CM Gehlot, who had just met Sonia Gandhi, spoke to the media.
Gehlot continued to say in his address to the media that he would not run for office in this climate. With moral responsibility, I won’t run in these elections, Gehlot declared.
Gehlot responded, “I won’t decide that, Congress head Sonia Gandhi will decide that,” when asked if he will continue serving as chief minister of Rajasthan.
“Our custom is one-line resolution. Unfortunately, a problem developed for which no resolution was adopted. I had a moral obligation to see that the resolution was carried, but despite being a CM, I was unable to do so “he added.
Gehlot explained to reporters that the party is governed by the Congress president and that choices would be made later.
He claimed that while members of Congress worried about the direction the nation is heading, solving the problem was more crucial.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Digvijaya Singh also gathered his nomination paperwork today and said he will probably file them tomorrow between 11 am and 3 pm.
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has declared that he will submit his application for the position at 12:15 tomorrow.
The deadline for submitting nominations for the top congressional position is September 30 and the election will be held on October 17.