People in mood to repeat govt: CM Ashok Gehlot files nomination for Rajasthan polls

Pic/PTI

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Monday filed his nomination from the Sardarpura Assembly constituency in Rajasthan which is going to polls on November 25, reported news agency ANI.

The last date for filing nominations is November 6.

Speaking to reporters about the Rajasthan Assembly polls, CM Gehlot said, "People of the state are in the mood to repeat the government in Rajasthan...," reported ANI.

He also said that the desert state which was earlier known as a backward state has undergone a change since he became the CM, reported ANI.

"Earlier Rajasthan was known as a backward state but now it has changed. Today, Rajasthan has AIIMS, IITs, IIMs and other universities. When I became the CM for the first time, there were only 6 universities and now there are over 100 colleges...," CM Gehlot added, reported ANI.

Sardarpura is seen as a Congress stronghold with Gehlot winning from the seat in all elections since 1998. He received 63 per cent votes in the 2018 assembly elections.

The chief minister's wife Sunita Gehlot and son Vaibhav Gehlot accompanied him when he filed his nomination papers. Before filing his nomination, the CM took his sister's blessings.

The Congress released its seventh list of 21 candidates, fielding state minister Shanti Dhariwal from the Kota North seat. In its Sunday list, the party denied a ticket to Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot's loyalist and Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation Chairman Dharmendra Rathore, reported ANI.

The Congress fielded Mahendra Singh Ralawata from the Ajmer North constituency.

Notably, Dhariwal and Rathore were among the three senior state leaders against whom the party's disciplinary committee had issued notices after they did not attend a meeting of the Congress Legislature Party in the state and held a parallel meeting of MLAs instead last year, during the party presidential elections, reported ANI.

The leaders had led the rebels, who refused to accept Sachin Pilot as the Chief Minister when the party wanted Gehlot to stand for the party president's post, reported ANI.

Rajasthan will go to the polls on November 25, the counting of which will take place on December 5, along with four other state assembly elections.

(With inputs from ANI)