NEW DELHI: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi praised the welfare schemes of the Ashok Gehlot government, but disagreed with the former CM’s argument that BJP polarised the Rajasthan elections which resulted in Congress finishing runner-up.
At the review meeting of the Rajasthan defeat, Rahul is learnt to have argued that if BJP had succeeded in polarising the polls, then Congress would not have maintained its vote share of nearly 40%, and even increased it by a small fraction, which was barely 2% behind BJP.He said it was much better than MP and Chhattisgarh, and the party was not blown away.
Gehlot lashed out at the communal pitch during the campaign of BJP leaders led by PM Modi, and lamented that the rival did not fight the polls by challenging the record of the state government. Rahul agreed with the claim that the state’s welfare schemes were path-breaking, but added that Congress failed to communicate them comprehensively to the voters, and could not create a forceful campaign like it was witnessed in Karnataka, barring holding rallies. He is also said to have remarked that bureaucracy had dominated the government.
With Congress delivering its best poll performance as the ruling party in Jaipur in last two decades, many leaders felt that party would have stood a better chance if it had dropped senior leaders and MLAs who were identified by the in-house surveys as facing anti-incumbency, as against the government which was seen as popular.
The Congress Election Committee had witnessed repeated arguments between Rahul and Gehlot over replacing sitting MLAs, but the CM prevailed in retaining most of the MLAs. Of the 23 ministers, 17 lost and only 6, including Gehlot, managed to win. A leader, however, stated that work has to start well in advance if candidates are to be replaced. Another participant demanded that the party should identify the leaders who had recommended individual candidates, and fix accountability.
When asked if there will be changes in the state organisation, AICC incharge Sukhjinder Randhawa said changes are effected only if the party’s performance dips – suggesting that Dotasara could continue as the state chief. He, however, said the party will fix accountability.
At the review meeting of the Rajasthan defeat, Rahul is learnt to have argued that if BJP had succeeded in polarising the polls, then Congress would not have maintained its vote share of nearly 40%, and even increased it by a small fraction, which was barely 2% behind BJP.He said it was much better than MP and Chhattisgarh, and the party was not blown away.
Gehlot lashed out at the communal pitch during the campaign of BJP leaders led by PM Modi, and lamented that the rival did not fight the polls by challenging the record of the state government. Rahul agreed with the claim that the state’s welfare schemes were path-breaking, but added that Congress failed to communicate them comprehensively to the voters, and could not create a forceful campaign like it was witnessed in Karnataka, barring holding rallies. He is also said to have remarked that bureaucracy had dominated the government.
With Congress delivering its best poll performance as the ruling party in Jaipur in last two decades, many leaders felt that party would have stood a better chance if it had dropped senior leaders and MLAs who were identified by the in-house surveys as facing anti-incumbency, as against the government which was seen as popular.
The Congress Election Committee had witnessed repeated arguments between Rahul and Gehlot over replacing sitting MLAs, but the CM prevailed in retaining most of the MLAs. Of the 23 ministers, 17 lost and only 6, including Gehlot, managed to win. A leader, however, stated that work has to start well in advance if candidates are to be replaced. Another participant demanded that the party should identify the leaders who had recommended individual candidates, and fix accountability.
When asked if there will be changes in the state organisation, AICC incharge Sukhjinder Randhawa said changes are effected only if the party’s performance dips – suggesting that Dotasara could continue as the state chief. He, however, said the party will fix accountability.
