JAIPUR: Congress is considering fielding senior leaders such as ex-CM Ashok Gehlot, ex-deputy CM Sachin Pilot, and former Union minister CP Joshi in the forthcoming polls in Rajasthan, aiming to overturn the zero-seat outcome in both 2014 and 2019 in the state that sends 25 MPs to Lok Sabha.
AICC’s Rajasthan in-charge SS Randhawa, announced Tuesday that the party is in talks with Gehlot and Pilot, while the name of Joshi, who was speaker of the previous assembly, is being discussed for Jaipur City and Bhilwara LS seats.
Randhawa also mentioned that the AICC general secretary Mukul Wasnik-led committee is engaging with other parties for possible alliances in the state.
Despite having a strong base, Congress couldn’t translate it into seats in the previous two elections, as BJP rode the Modi wave to sweep all 25 constituencies in 2014 and took 24 in 2019, with ally RLP winning one.
There’s a prevailing belief that strong candidates could turn the tide for Congress. For instance, in Jodhpur, where BJP fielded Union minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat for the third time, Congress lacked a formidable contender. Gehlot’s son Vaibhav stood in the 2019 elections and suffered a significant defeat.
If the ex-CM is fielded by Congress, Shekhawat could face a formidable challenge. Gehlot has represented Jodhpur thrice in the past.
Similarly, Pilot’s candidacy in Tonk-Sawai Madhopur could energise supporters and potentially influence neighbouring seats.
However, a section in Congress argued that if top leaders contest polls, they may be confined to their constituencies and unable to campaign for others.
AICC’s Rajasthan in-charge SS Randhawa, announced Tuesday that the party is in talks with Gehlot and Pilot, while the name of Joshi, who was speaker of the previous assembly, is being discussed for Jaipur City and Bhilwara LS seats.
Randhawa also mentioned that the AICC general secretary Mukul Wasnik-led committee is engaging with other parties for possible alliances in the state.
Despite having a strong base, Congress couldn’t translate it into seats in the previous two elections, as BJP rode the Modi wave to sweep all 25 constituencies in 2014 and took 24 in 2019, with ally RLP winning one.
There’s a prevailing belief that strong candidates could turn the tide for Congress. For instance, in Jodhpur, where BJP fielded Union minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat for the third time, Congress lacked a formidable contender. Gehlot’s son Vaibhav stood in the 2019 elections and suffered a significant defeat.
If the ex-CM is fielded by Congress, Shekhawat could face a formidable challenge. Gehlot has represented Jodhpur thrice in the past.
Similarly, Pilot’s candidacy in Tonk-Sawai Madhopur could energise supporters and potentially influence neighbouring seats.
However, a section in Congress argued that if top leaders contest polls, they may be confined to their constituencies and unable to campaign for others.