Rajasthan: Congress leaders meet Governor, stake claim to form government

Jaipur, Dec 12 (IANS) Even as suspense over the name of next Rajasthan Chief Minister continued, a Congress party delegation on Wednesday met Governor Kalyan Singh to stake claim to form the next government in state.

Rajasthan Congress President Sachin Pilot and former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot are the frontrunners for the coveted post.

The delegation comprising Pilot, Gehlot and other Congress leaders reached the Governor's House in Jaipur after a series of meetings at the Pradesh Congress Committee office the state capital.

The newly elected MLAs from across the state had come to attend the meeting to elect their leader. However, no consensus could be reached, with both Gehlot and Pilot supporters strongly backing their leaders.

Meanwhile, Congress leaders have confirmed that after a meeting with the Governor, Pilot and Gehlot will leave for Delhi to meet Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Thursday.

The Congress has emerged as the single-largest party in Rajasthan with 99 seats, though they are one seat short of a majority.

Its pre-poll alliance partner Rashtriya Lok Dal has won one seat and together, they have garnered 100 seats, which makes for the majority mark. 

The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party gained 73 seats in the Assembly elections held in Rajasthan on Dec 7 for 199 seats out of 200. Election in Ramgarh constituency was countermanded following the death of BSP candidate Laxman Singh.