JAIPUR: The political circles are agog with Congress state leadership’s overtures to Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLTP) leader and MLA Hanuman Beniwal. The ruling party had ruled out pre-poll alliance with any party so far. Its bonhomie with the young Jat leader in past few days has fuelled speculations in the power corridor.The Congress leadership's somersault is being seen as the brinkmanship of chief minister Ashok Gehlot, who is planning his son Vaibhav Gehlot’s political debut from Jodhpur. According to political observers, Gehlot is seeking an understanding with the Jat leader whose community has a sizeable presence in Jodhpur.RLTP was formed just before the assembly polls in December last year had won the Bhopalgarh assembly seat in Jodhpur district , the home turf of chief minister Gehlot. From the adjoining Nagaur district, Beniwal won the Khinvsar seat and his party’s Indira Devi won the Merta seat.Beniwal, who enjoys a following among the youths of his community, had been unsparing in his criticism of Gehlot and former chief Minister Vasundhara Raje during recent assembly elections. Lately, the RLP MLA has toned down his attacks on Gehlot and even paid a visit to him, ostensibly to enquire about his health and to discuss some ‘pressing matters’.Beniwal, while talking to TOI, said, “My visit to the chief minister was to raise some issues relating to transport department like harassment of truckers in the guise of charging them for over-loading or under-loading.”He claimed that “no political talks were held during the visit.”Beniwal said it was “just coincidental” that assembly speaker C P Joshi and deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot were also present at the chief minister’s residence when he went to enquire about Gehlot’s health.Beniwal’s RLTP which had three MLAs in the assembly had earlier announced that his party would put up candidates in the parliamentary elections as well and said that the party’s core committee is meeting in two days to consider the candidates.

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