JAIPUR: The Congress decision to field AICC general secretary and former chief minister Ashok Gehlot in the assembly elections has put a question mark on the party’s strategy for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Will Gehlot be restricted to Rajasthan despite witnessing his stellar skills in turning around the party’s fortune pan India in past two years or does the party fear a hung assembly this time again, is the question puzzling many even in the Congress ranks.Gehlot, a two-time CM and former union minister, is known for his sharp political acumen. Last year, Congress put his abilities to use in Punjab and Gujarat elections. Impressed by his poll management in the two states, the party gave him the bigger responsibility as AICC general secretary of the organisation in March this year. In the new role, the former Rajasthan CM was seen at number-2 position in the Congress, only after party president Rahul Gandhi.Gehlot was placed in the top post to make full use of his potential in chalking out strategies and preparing the party for the 2019 general elections. Gehlot displayed his talent in the Karnataka polls and has since been travelling to other poll-bound states too.By fielding him in the Rajasthan elections, the party has sent across a message that Gehlot might be confined to the state now. “If Congress comes to power in Rajasthan, will the party spare Gehlot to be the CM right before the general elections for which he has been working so far? Will the party then search for another general secretary to infuse life into the organisation barely 4-5 months before the crucial 2019 elections?” questioned a Congress veteran.Many others in the party welcomed the decision. Congress vice-president Rajiv Arora said, “Party’s decision to field Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot in the elections has boosted Congressmen’s morale. Congress will perform even better now.”On the question of Gehlot getting restricted to Rajasthan, Arora said, “The priority at present is to win in all five poll-bound states. Once Congress is victorious in these states, the party can decide how to put his capabilities to the best use.”Political observers feel Gehlot’s presence in the state elections will help Congress in countering BJP, which is putting up a brave face against anti-incumbency and chief minister Vasundhara Raje’s perceived unpopularity. The 2008 state polls had given a hung assembly. Congress with its 96 MLAs was then the largest party but fell short of five legislators to reach majority in the 200-member house. It was Gehlot who had then orchestrated the merger of all six BSP MLAs into Congress to form a government that lasted its full five-year term. If the 2008 scenario is repeated in 2018, the ‘magician’ Congressman might prove handy once again.

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