Rajasthan Elections 2018: Both Ashok Gehlot, Sachin Pilot to contest polls

Nov 14 (AZINS) In a bid to show united face, ahead of assembly elections, both the Congress heavyweights from Rajasthan, former CM Ashok Gehlot and former Union Minister Sachin Pilot will be contesting the polls. Ashok Gehlot made the announcement in New Delhi on Wednesday with Sachin Pilot on his side. Both are projected as the top contenders to become CM if Congress comes back to power in the state.

According to opinion polls, Congress is well ahead of incumbent BJP in Rajasthan and is an overwhelming favourite to win the polls. The results will be published on December 11.

Ashok Gehlot was quoted as saying today, "Both, I and Sachin Pilot will fight the Rajasthan assembly elections". Sachin Pilot indicated that the decision has come right from the top saying that Rahul Gandhi has instructed both to contest polls.

In a setback to Rajasthan's ruling BJP ahead of next month's elections, the party's Dausa MP Harish Chandra Meena joined the Congress on Wednesday.

Meena, a former director general of police, joined the Congress in the presence of former Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot, Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee chief Sachin Pilot and AICC's state in-charge Avinash Pande."I am happy that Harish Meena has decided to join the Congress in such times. I welcome him in the Congress fold," Gehlot said at a press conference about the new entrant who had served as DGP when he was chief minister.

Pilot and Gehlot said they will contest the December 7 polls along with other senior leaders of the state."We are all united. It is BJP's conspiracy to spread false news that the Congress is divided," Gehlot said.