JAIPUR: Former Rajasthan deputy CM Sachin Pilot on Friday reached Jaipur from Kochi amid hectic lobbying in the Congress for the chief minister's post after Ashok Gehlot announced his decision to contest the Congress national president's election, and rushed to meet the speaker and party MLAs in the assembly.
Pilot was in Kochi participating in the 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' being led by Rahul Gandhi. Pilot, who reached Jaipur in the afternoon, went straight to the assembly that is in session and met Speaker CP Joshi and party chief whip Mahesh Joshi in the latter's chamber. He also interacted with all the party MLAs present.
After Gehlot said the next CM will be decided by the Congress high command in consultation with party MLAs, Pilot is reaching out to all the legislators. It is, however, not clear whether Gehlot would first step down as CM and contest the Congress election, or resign after that. It is learnt that the party top brass has asked Pilot to stay put in Jaipur and meet MLAs till a final decision is taken.
Some MLAs seem to be warming up to Pilot with political equations changing in the last two days.
Independent MLA and Gehlot loyalist Babulal Nagar said, "When he (Pilot) was not in politics, I was a hardcore supporter of his father Rajesh Pilot. I have seen all phases and any individual who has the talent comes to the fore with time," Nagar said.
Gehlot, who had earlier met Rahul, on Friday said the latter has refused to contest the party president's election and wants a non-Gandhi to head the party.
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