New Delhi: With the window for filing nomination papers for the presidential election shrinking, it is likely that Ashok Gehlot might meet Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi today.
Gehlot after being given a clean chit in Rajasthan crises convened with over two dozen Congress lawmakers, including ministers, at his residence late on Tuesday and told them everything was fine and that they should have faith in Congress president Sonia Gandhi.
The party high command Tuesday started working on a two-pronged strategy to contain the crisis. It has allowed some leaders to open channels of communication with Gehlot and is exploring all options, including looking for an alternate candidate.
A showcause notice was issued to Rajasthan Parliamentary Affairs Minister Shanti Dhariwal, state chief whip Mahesh Joshi and RTDC chief Dharmendra Rathore, asking them to reply within 10 days on the “unofficial meeting” held by its MLAs in Jaipur on Sunday which, it said, amounted to “grave indiscipline”.
Disciplinary action has been recommended against three Ashok Gehlot loyalists in a Congress observers’ report to Sonia Gandhi on the developments in Rajasthan. The Congress observers – Mallikarjun Kharge and Ajay Maken — have recommended disciplinary action against three party leaders, including ministers and the chief whip, sources were quoted as saying by the media reports.