Mahesh Joshi praised CM Ashok Gehlot’s decision not to contest the congressional president’s poll.
jaipur:
Rajasthan minister Mahesh Joshi praised Prime Minister Ashok Gehlot’s decision not to contest the congressional president’s poll and said he never disobeyed the orders of the party’s high command.
“The example (so as not to contest the Congressional President’s poll) that CM Gehlot set today cannot be appreciated enough. He has never disobeyed the orders of the party’s high command… If the party gives us a sends an official message, we will present our side,” Mr. Joshi said.
His comments came after Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot said on Thursday that he will not fight for the post of head of Congress.
Highlighting the September 25 incident, Mr Joshi said: “The proposal was also approved on September 25.
Mr. Gehlot was so saddened by this incident that he couldn’t even sleep well at night. He was afraid that this would have hurt Sonia Gandhi. We never said we will decide the CM.”
Mr Gehlot’s comments came after the veteran leader met the party’s interim chief Sonia Gandhi today at her residence at 10 Janpath in the national capital.
“I met Rahul Gandhi in Kochi and asked him to run in the elections (for the president of Congress). When he didn’t accept, I said I would fight, but now with that incident (political crisis in Rajasthan), I have decided not to participate in the elections”, said CM Gehlot.
He also apologized for the commotion in Rajasthan caused by his loyalists over a possible leadership change in the state after Mr Gehlot submitted his nomination papers for the Congressional main polls.
CM Gehlot said what has happened in the state over the past two days has shocked everyone.
“I had a conversation with the interim president of Congress, Sonia Gandhi. What happened two days ago shocked us. It gave us the message that it all happened while I wanted to become CM. I apologized to her CM Gehlot said in a speech to the media. meeting with Sonia Gandhi.
Further in his speech to the media, CM Gehlot said that he will not contest the elections in this atmosphere. “I will not contest these elections in this atmosphere, with moral responsibility,” said CM Gehlot.
When asked if he will remain Rajasthan CM, Gehlot said: “I will not decide that, Congress chief Sonia Gandhi will decide that.”
“One-line resolution is our tradition. Unfortunately, a situation arose where the resolution was not passed. It was my moral responsibility (to approve the resolution), but despite being a CM, I couldn’t get it” , he added.
Speaking to reporters, Mr Gehlot said the party is operating under the president of Congress and decisions will be made in the near future.
He said congressional officials are concerned about the direction the country is heading and that it is more important to address the issue.
Also, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Digvijaya Singh collected his nomination papers today and announced that he is likely to submit his nominations tomorrow between 11am and 3pm.
Congressman Shashi Tharoor has announced that he will submit his nomination for the position tomorrow at 12:15 p.m.
Nominations for the highest congressional post will be submitted until September 30, and the election will take place on October 17.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by DailyExpertNews staff and has been published from a syndicated feed.)
