Speculation suggests change of guard in Rajasthan

A day after Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot was targeted by Congress chief Rahul Gandhi at the Congress Working Committee (CWC) for the loss of all 25 Lok Sabha seats in the state, there is strong speculation of a change of leadership in the state.

Lal Chand Kataria, known to be a loyalist of Ashok Gehlot, has resigned as a minister stating the loss in the election the primary reason.

However, his resignation has not been confirmed by the Governor’s office.

A press release circulated on social media states that Kataria considered it morally inappropriate to continue as minister after the party’s defeat.

The Rajasthan Congress failed to win even one of the state’s 25 Lok Sabha seats. The major reason cited by political experts for the big loss is the party infighting and a strong Modi wave.

According to the reports, Gandhi had targeted three Congress leaders, including Gehlot, for concentrating on their sons instead of the state, leading to the party’s bad performance.

As per the party insiders Chief Minister Gehlot, Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot and state Congress in-charge Avinash Pandey is likely to meet Rahul Gandhi in Delhi.

Congress in Rajasthan lost all 25 seats to BJP in Lok Sabha elections. The scenario is reminiscent of 2014 polls where Congress was for the first time reduced to zero in Rajasthan.