New Delhi: Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot has officially stepped out of the race for the Congress president after he met the interim president Sonia Gandhi on Thursday.
Gehlot said he will not contest the Congress president elections following the recent political turmoil in Rajasthan.
“I met Rahul Gandhi in Kochi and requested him to fight in the polls (for Congress President). When he didn’t accept, I said I’ll contest but now with that incident (Rajasthan Political Crisis), I’ve decided not to contest the elections,” Gehlot said in Delhi.
“One-line resolution is our tradition. Unfortunately, a situation arose that resolution wasn’t passed. It was my moral responsibility, but despite being a CM I couldn’t get the resolution passed,” Gehlot added.
“I won’t contest these elections in this atmosphere, with moral responsibility,” Ashok Gehlot said.
On being asked if he will remain Rajasthan CM, Gehlot said, “I won’t decide that, Congress chief Sonia Gandhi will decide that.”
Meanwhile, former Madhya Pradesh chief minister, Digvijaya Singh, will be contesting the polls for the top Congress post as he will be filing nomination on Friday.
“Today I have come here to collect my nomination form (for Congress president elections), Digvijaya Singh said adding that he will file it on Friday.
Former Madhya Pradesh chief minister is expected to face Shashi Tharoor, who is also likely to file his papers on Friday.