Gehlot gets Gujarat charge as Congress eases out Gurudas Kamat

Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot was made AICC General Secretary in-charge of Gujarat shunting out Gurudas Kamat, who was in a thick of controversy over his public spats with party leaders.
 
Congress President Sonia Gandhi also appointed Lok Sabha member Rajeev Satav and three MLAs – Harshvardhan Sapkal, Varsha Gaikwad and Jitu Patwari as AICC Secretaries to assist Gehlot in discharging his duties in Gujarat which goes to polls later this year.
 
The new appointments are seen as a glimpse into the team of Rahul Gandhi, who is tipped to be elevated as Congress President later this year. Kamat, who had a running battle with Mumbai Congress chief Sanjay Nirupam and AICC General Secretary Mohan Prakash, issued a press statement saying he had asked Rahul to relieve him of all party posts.
 
“I had met Congress vice president Shri Rahul Gandhi last week on Wednesday and discussed to be relieved from all responsibilities,” Kamat said.
 
Rahul is expected to launch the Congress campaign for Gujarat elections on May 1 by addressing a rally in Dediapada in Narmada district of south Gujarat. The Congress has been out of power in Gujarat for more than two decades and keen to defeat the BJP in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's home state. Congress is making all out attempts to woo tribals who were its key supporters till they were won over by the BJP.
 
Modi has already launched the BJP campaign for the Gujarat elections by carrying out a massive roadshow in Surat, the stronghold of the Patel community which was upset with the BJP over reservation issue. BJP President Amit Shah has set a target of winning 150 of the 182 seats in the Gujarat assembly.