Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot met Congress chief Sonia Gandhi in Delhi today, sparking speculation that a cabinet reshuffle may be in the offing in Rajasthan ahead of polls.
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot met Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi at her 10 Janpath home on Tuesday. The visit renewed speculation that a cabinet rejig in the desert state may be in the offing.
The council of ministers in Congress-ruled Rajasthan last underwent a makeover in November 2021. The cabinet expansion was long overdue and 15 ministers were sworn in. MLAs loyal to both Ashok Gehlot and former deputy CM Sachin Pilot were given berths in a fine balancing act while accommodating caste and regional equations.
Now, with elections set to take place in Rajasthan sometime before December 2023, there is growing buzz that another cabinet reshuffle may be on the cards as the Congress prepares to make organisational changes in readiness for the high-stakes polls.
According to sources, apart from poll preparations in Rajasthan, Gehlot and Sonia Gandhi also discussed two key matters.
PREPAREDNESS FOR GUJARAT POLLS
Ashok Gehlot is senior observer of Congress in Gujarat. He was recently on a two-day tour of Gujarat. Sources said the senior Congress leader discussed the party’s preparedness at length with Sonia Gandhi. He also briefed her on where the Congress stands at the moment as compared to the BJP and AAP, sources said.
The two leaders also poured over the SWOT analysis of the organisational strength, as well as the implications of the recent developments in the Bilkis Bano case, as per sources.
Gehlot, along with AICC incharge organisation KC Venugopal, are likely to travel to poll-bound Gujarat soon.
RAHUL GANDHI FOR CONGRESS PRESIDENT
Sources in the Gehlot camp claimed that “taking a suo moto cognisance, the Rajasthan CM has requested Sonia Gandhi to make Rahul Gandhi the party president”.
At an event in Jaipur on Monday, Ashok Gehlot had said, “If Rahul Gandhi does not become the party president, it will be a disappointment for the Congressmen across the country. He should understand the sentiments of Congress workers and accept this post.
