‘Gardener governance model’: Ashok Gehlot’s poll pitch in Rajasthan Premium

Gehlot likens his job as the Chief Minister to that of a gardener.

Rajasthan has a history of voting out incumbent governments, and Ashok Gehlot has been there twice in his political career. But this time would be different, he says as he sits down for dinner after yet another gruelling day.

“We have delivered, and people know that we have delivered,” Mr. Gehlot said. His plan for winning a majority in the 200-seat State Assembly hinges on the slew of welfare and development schemes his government has kicked off. In 2018, the Congress won 100 seats, one short of majority. Election will be announced early October.

Mr. Gehlot calls it the “mali model of good governance”, referring to his caste that is traditionally in the occupation of gardening. He likens his job as the Chief Minister to that of a gardener. “Mali’s job is to tend the garden. There are flowers of various colours and fragrances. They need to be nourished and protected. As CM of Rajasthan, I think of myself as a gardener of the society,” he said.

“Rajasthan is a garden. We have people from all communities. Brahmin, Vaishya, Dalit, backward classes, Muslims… the garden is beautiful when we have all types of flowers... Similarly, people of all backgrounds make a society complete...The job I am trying to do is tend it,” he said.

Mali is an OBC community, and Mr. Gehlot’s social origin has become a talking point for the Congress across the country.

“Of the four Chief Ministers that we have, three are from OBC communities,” Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said in Madhya Pradesh on Saturday.

Madhya Pradesh will also be voting along with Rajasthan and a few other States.