Two days after falling in line with high command, Ashok Gehlot hints he will remain Rajasthan CM | Political Pulse News,The Indian Express

Asks public to send him suggestions regarding next year's Budget; loyalists say it seems like there will be no CM change

Asked by reporters as to who would present next year’s Budget in the state, Gehlot replied by urging the public to send their suggestions about the budget to him. He was speaking in Bikaner, having returned from Delhi and resumed his duties of Chief Minister Saturday.

“I have said that we will present a budget for students and the youth. I am repeating once again and appealing to the youth, students and the public of the state that they send the suggestions that they have in their minds directly to me. I want to bring those schemes which are in their hearts. Because the future of the country is the youth,” he said.

This is also a departure from what Gehlot had told reporters on September 25, just before his loyalist MLAs skipped a scheduled CLP meeting to announce support for him, ahead of a CM change. With Congress presidency seen as within his reach, Gehlot had said he would brief “the next CM” on suggestions regarding schemes for students and the youth for the next budget.

At the time, his statement was seen as a signal that Gehlot was ready to step down to contest the Congress national presidential election. He also said that the new generation should be given a chance.

Now, with the Jaipur rebellion resulting in an apology by him to Sonia and his withdrawal from the Congress presidential race, Gehlot appears to be again playing hardball. After Gehlot’s meeting with Sonia, the Congress had said that the Congress president would decide the next Rajasthan CM.

https://indianexpress.com/article/political-pulse/ashok-gehlot-rajasthan-cm-sonia-gandhi-8184215/

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