Gehlot's son likely to contest LS polls

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot’s son Vaibhav Gehlot is likely to make his electoral debut in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls but his entry may not be a smooth one.

Vaibhav (41), who currently works as the Congress' state unit general secretary, may be forayed either from Jodhpur or Jalore-Sirohi Lok Sabha constituency.

The speculation of Vaibhav entering active politics were doing rounds since the Assembly elections in Rajasthan, but recently Ashok Gehlot indicated that his son would contest from Jodhpur, his home turf.

Jodhpur has eight Assembly constituencies— Falodi, Lohavat, Shergarh, Sardarpura, Sheor, Sursagar, Puni and Pokhran. At present the Congress has six MLAs and the BJP has two.

"It's the party high command who will decide the names of candidates. But during the last Lok Sabha polls, I wanted him (Vaibhav) to try for Jalore-Sirohi but ultimately he couldn’t get a ticket. This time again he's trying and the high command will decide on his candidature," said Ashok Gehlot at a recently held public meeting in Sirohi

The major hurdle to Vaibhav's entry is none other than Deputy Chief minister of Rajasthan Sachin Pilot, who shares a strained relationship with Ashok Gehlot.

When the name of Vaibhav started doing rounds, Pilot, who also holds the chair of president of Pradesh Congress Committee, indirectly hinted towards Vaibhav by saying that the Congress party has decided not to give tickets to an incumbent Rajya Sabha MP, MLA, or those who have lost elections, or relatives of a politician.

"The party has given me the position of a Deputy Chief Minister. Now my task is that of a leader and I should extend a chance to other party workers to contest elections. The Congress wants good, loyal and hardworking workers to contest elections instead of advocating for my family members and relatives, " Pilot told reporters showing his disagreement to Vaibhav

The elections in Rajasthan will be held in two phases.

In the first phase, 13 parliamentary constituencies will go to polls on April 29.

In the second phase, to be held on May 6, will see 12 parliamentary constituencies go for polls.