Raj CM Ashok Gehlot submits resignation

Jaipur: Congress veteran, Ashok Gehlot tendered his resignation as Rajasthan Chief Minister this evening, marking the end of his tenure after the BJP secured a comfortable victory in the November 25 polls.

As the counting of votes unfolded on Sunday and the trends stabilized later in the evening, Gehlot, acknowledging the BJP’s dominant position with 115 seats, reached Governor Kalraj Mishra’s residence to submit his resignation. The BJP’s clear lead surpassed the majority mark of 100, leaving the Congress trailing with only 70 seats.

Gehlot accepted the defeat, labeling it as “shocking.” He reflected on the outcome, stating, “This shows that we were not fully successful in taking our policies, laws, and governance practices to the people.”

In a subsequent media interaction, Gehlot emphasized that the Congress would introspect and analyze the reasons behind the election results. Addressing the speculations about the need for new faces, Gehlot remarked, “There was talk of bringing new faces, and new faces should come, but this demand was not there in MP and Chhattisgarh, and still, we lost the election.”

The internal strife within the Congress, particularly the infighting between Ashok Gehlot and his ousted deputy Sachin Pilot, emerged as a significant factor contributing to the party’s defeat. Despite their attempts to present a united front, the lingering tension between the two leaders had evidently taken its toll.

Ashok Gehlot expressed disappointment in the election outcome, stating, “We were expecting to win on the basis of our schemes, laws, and promises. But, the government could not be formed.” Despite stepping down from the chief ministerial post, Gehlot affirmed his commitment to working for the people, irrespective of his official position.