On Wednesday, amidst doubt over the internal election scheduled for next month in the wake of an unprecedented rebellion in Rajasthan, the former chief minister of Madhya Pradesh, Digvijaya Singh, emerged as a possible contender. There are only two days left before the nomination process closes.
Singh, 75, will meet Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Thursday after taking part in the party’s Bharat Jodo Yatra in Kerala. The erstwhile favourite for the job, Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot, who was set to file his nomination for the October 17 poll before the rebellion by 92 lawmakers loyal to him, is also expected to come to Delhi and meet Gandhi over the next two days, ostensibly to offer an explanation on what happened, and disassociate himself from the actions of his supporters.
‘I have not discussed it with anyone. I have also not asked for the high command’s permission. You should leave it to me whether I contest or not,’ When asked about a potential run for office, Singh responded.
But according to the people cited above, Singh’s decision to file the nomination while managing the yatra—the party’s largest mass-contact effort in years—seems to be directly related to the debacle in Rajasthan and Gehlot’s apparent reluctance to step down as chief minister.
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