New Delhi, December 13: After hours of hectic deliberations over selection of chief ministers, Congress president Rahul Gandhi late on Thursday evening tweeted a smiling picture with Madhya Pradesh chief ministerial contenders Kamal Nath and Jyotiraditya Scindia and quoted Leo Tolstoy to say that the two most powerful warriors are patience and time.
“The two most powerful warriors are patience and time,” he tweeted quoting Leo Tolstoy.
Kamal Nath leads the race for chief ministers post in Madhya Pradesh and his name appears to have been cleared by the party high-command but will be announced later at night in Bhopal.
Jyotiraditya Scindia also tweeted the same picture saying there is no race for chief minister in Madhya Pradesh and the issue is to serve the people. He said the chief minister of the state would be announced soon.
“It is not a race, it is not about kursi (chair), we are here to serve the people of Madhya Pradesh. I am leaving for Bhopal and you will get to know the decision (on chief minister) today,” Scindia tweeted.
Kamal Nath also said that he was leaving for Bhopal, where the announcement of the chief minister will be made later tonight.
In Bhopal a meeting of the Congress legislature party is slated around 10 pm, where the announcement will be made.
Nath and Scindia held separate meetings with Rahul Gandhi, where UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi was also present.
Gandhi earlier held a flurry of meetings with senior party leaders, including central observer A K Antony and AICC general secretary in-charge of the state Deepak Babariya, before deciding on the chief minister.
Gehlot and Pilot met Gandhi individually to apprise the party chief of their views. Central party observer for Rajasthan KC Venugopal also met Gandhi.
Madhya Pradesh chief ministerial contender Kamal Nath was seen entering Rahul Gandhi’s residence later in the evening.
Meanwhile, as the Congress continues to debate who would be the chief minister of Rajasthan, Pilot’s supporters piled on the pressure by blocking roads in the state.
Protesters blocked the Hindaun-Mahua state highway as well as a road near Karauli, partially hitting traffic flow.
The protests forced Pilot to issue a statement asking his party workers to maintain calm.
“I appeal to all party workers to maintain peace and discipline. I have full faith in the Congress leadership. Will welcome whatever decision party chief Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi will take. We all have a responsibility to maintain dignity of the party,” he said in a tweet in Hindi.
Gehlot made a similar appeal.
“I appeal to workers to maintain calm. They have worked very hard. Whatever decisions will be taken will be binding on all. Rahul ji is talking to and consulting all leaders,” he said in a statement.
Gandhis have to factor in reports of violence by Pilot’s Gujjar caste supporters in Rajasthan as well as rivals Bharatiya Janata Party and Akali Dal raking up old riots allegations against veteran Congress leader Kamal Nath.
Nath has been accused of being involved in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.
Sources said though the Gandhis were inclined to name Gehlot as Rajasthan’s chief minister and Nath as his MP counterpart, the official confirmation is taking time as the Gandhi family considers the repercussions.
‘Support’
Meanwhile, tension mounted in both Pilot and Gehlot camps as thousands gathered outside the Congress headquarters in Jaipur and Gehlot’s civil lines residence.
As rumours swirled that Gehlot had been made chief minister, his supporters began celebrating. Pilot’s supporters gathered at the Congress headquarters meanwhile shouted slogans of their support to their candidate.
As evening progressed, supporters began leaving as they heard television channels say that the party high command had called Gehlot back for more discussions.
Police deployed its force in large numbers around the city. With agencies
