Amid the ongoing turmoil within the Rajasthan Congress as a result of reports of incumbent Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot contesting for the party's top post, the state's government is looking at a possible political void.
Amid the impasse over making Sachin Pilot the chief minster and Ashok Gehlot's bid to contest for the post of Congress President, over 90 Rajasthan MLAs submitted their resignation ahead of a Congress Legislative Party meeting called at Gehlot's residence on Sunday, 25 September.
However, if not Sachin Pilot, who, among the Congress, are probables for the chief minister of Rajasthan?
If Not Pilot, Here Are the Frontrunners for Rajasthan CM Post After Gehlot
1. CP Joshi
CP Joshi is the incumbent Speaker of the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly. A seasoned politician, Joshi has held the post of Union Cabinet minister during the UPA's rule at the Centre.
He got elected as an MLA from the Nathdwara Assembly constituency in 2018. In 2014, he had contested the Lok Sabha elections from the Jaipur Rural constituency, but was defeated by BJP's Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore.
Several Congress MLAs, reportedly belonging to Ashok Gehlot's camp, arrived at Joshi's residence in Jaipur late on Sunday night.
Expand2. Shanti Kumar Dhariwal
Shanti Kumar Dhariwal is a cabinet minister in the state government and an MLA from the Kota North constituency.
In December 2018, he was appointed Cabinet Minister in the third Ashok Gehlot ministry with portfolios of Urban Development and Housing Department and Law and Legal Affairs.
A rebel MLA representative, Shanti Dhariwal and Pratap Khachariyawas are meeting Ajay Maken and Mallikarjun Kharge at Gehlot's residence right now.
Expand3. Govind Singh Dotasra
Govind Singh Dotasra is the chief of state unit of the Congress in Rajasthan. He was also seen participating in the Bharat Jodo Yatra with Rahul Gandhi and Ashok Gehlot.
Expand4. Bhanwar Jitendra Singh
Bhanwar Jitendra Singh, who belongs to the erstwhile royal family of Alwar, is among few Congress leaders from Rajasthan who have the party leadership’s ears.
A two-term MLA, Singh won from the Alwar parliamentary constituency in the 2009 general elections.
He was also inducted into the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) ministry as the minister of state for home affairs in 2011.
Expand5. Govind Ram Meghwal
Govind Ram Meghwal is a Cabinet minister for Disaster Management & Relief, Administrative Reforms and Coordination, Statistic Policy Planning Department in the Government of Rajasthan and the current vice president of Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee.
Meghwal, a Gehlot loyalist, was first elected as an MLA from Nokha in Bikaner in 2003 and then again in 2018 from Khajuwala.
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CP Joshi
CP Joshi is the incumbent Speaker of the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly. A seasoned politician, Joshi has held the post of Union Cabinet minister during the UPA's rule at the Centre.
He got elected as an MLA from the Nathdwara Assembly constituency in 2018. In 2014, he had contested the Lok Sabha elections from the Jaipur Rural constituency, but was defeated by BJP's Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore.
Several Congress MLAs, reportedly belonging to Ashok Gehlot's camp, arrived at Joshi's residence in Jaipur late on Sunday night.
Shanti Kumar Dhariwal
Shanti Kumar Dhariwal is a cabinet minister in the state government and an MLA from the Kota North constituency.
In December 2018, he was appointed Cabinet Minister in the third Ashok Gehlot ministry with portfolios of Urban Development and Housing Department and Law and Legal Affairs.
A rebel MLA representative, Shanti Dhariwal and Pratap Khachariyawas are meeting Ajay Maken and Mallikarjun Kharge at Gehlot's residence right now.
Govind Singh Dotasra
Govind Singh Dotasra is the chief of state unit of the Congress in Rajasthan. He was also seen participating in the Bharat Jodo Yatra with Rahul Gandhi and Ashok Gehlot.
Bhanwar Jitendra Singh
Bhanwar Jitendra Singh, who belongs to the erstwhile royal family of Alwar, is among few Congress leaders from Rajasthan who have the party leadership’s ears.
A two-term MLA, Singh won from the Alwar parliamentary constituency in the 2009 general elections.
He was also inducted into the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) ministry as the minister of state for home affairs in 2011.
Govind Ram Meghwal
Govind Ram Meghwal is a Cabinet minister for Disaster Management & Relief, Administrative Reforms and Coordination, Statistic Policy Planning Department in the Government of Rajasthan and the current vice president of Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee.
Meghwal, a Gehlot loyalist, was first elected as an MLA from Nokha in Bikaner in 2003 and then again in 2018 from Khajuwala.
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)