Rajasthan Assembly elections | Pressure building up on Gehlot to field younger politicians

Pressure is building up on Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot to give ticket to young candidates for this year’s Assembly election with at least three elderly Congress MLAs of the rival Sachin Pilot camp announcing that they will not contest the poll. The move has been perceived as an attempt to force Mr. Gehlot to make way for younger politicians.

Pressure is building up on Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot to give tickets to young candidates for this year’s Assembly election with at least three elderly Congress MLAs of the rival Sachin Pilot camp announcing that they will not contest the poll. The move has been perceived as an attempt to force Mr. Gehlot to make way for younger politicians.

Forest and Environment Minister Hemaram Choudhary, former Assembly Speaker Deependra Singh Shekhawat and Sangod MLA Bharat Singh – all in their 70s – have announced that they will not fight the Assembly election due in December this year. The three Congress leaders are considered loyal to former Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Pilot, whose rehabilitation in the State’s politics has posed a challenge before the ruling party.

Also Read | Reports of Sachin Pilot launching new party are rumours, says Congress leader

While Mr. Singh had earlier advised all senior Congress leaders to leave the “fascination for chair” and give an opportunity to the young leaders to move forward in politics, Mr. Shekhawat, who has represented Sikar district’s Srimadhopur seat five times, has cited health issues as the reason for his decision. Mr. Chaudhary said last week that he was given ticket for the 2018 election despite his unwillingness to contest then.

The move of the leaders of the Pilot camp is ostensibly targeted at two septuagenarian Ministers, Shanti Dhariwal and B.D. Kalla, who enjoy the confidence of Mr. Gehlot and are his close confidants. They have also sought to send across a message to the Congress high command that they have vacated their seats for the youth.

However, political observers pointed out that most of the elderly Congress MLAs, who were unpopular in their constituencies, wanted to use their plans for retirement from politics as a means to create difficulties for others in the rival camp. Moreover, many of them were putting forward their children and other family members in active politics.

Mr. Chaudhary is promoting his daughter Sunita Chaudhary from his Gudamalani constituency, while Mr. Shekhawat wants to get ticket for his son Balendu Singh from Srimadhopur.