Ashok Gehlot: ‘They’ve ED; I’ve seven ensures’
“The individuals of Rajasthan will vote us again to energy due to our welfare schemes and our pro-poor agenda,” says Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot.
| Photograph Credit score: PTI
At 72, Ashok Gehlot is main the Congress in Rajasthan from the entrance, combating to make sure a comeback. Representing Sardarpura in Jodhpur since 1999, Gehlot may be very a lot the get together’s lynchpin within the State and instructions probably the most help inside the organisation. He’s conscious {that a} formidable problem awaits him on this election as he’s anticipated to ensure a victory, one that may make him Chief Minister for the fourth time. Whereas inserting his confidence within the welfare schemes and ensures, Gehlot has additionally uncharacteristically made repeated references about his loyalty to the Gandhi household and get together president Sonia Gandhi. Excerpts from an interview with Frontline:
Does the Congress have a great likelihood of returning to energy? If sure, why?
Completely, the Congress is coming again to energy. Our confidence stems from the truth that we now have served the individuals from our hearts within the final 5 years. We now have tried our greatest to make sure that our welfare initiatives are usually not simply introduced however delivered to the doorsteps of the individuals. I consider we now have finished pretty effectively. The Mehngai Rahat Camps are testomony to this. Greater than 1.8 crore households registered for it and eight.02 crore Assure Playing cards had been delivered. We are actually promising seven extra ensures, primarily based on which individuals will resolve to vote for us once more.
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Is the Congress united in the true sense? In a tightly contested election, this may be vital.
Our get together is one, beneath the management of Mallikarjun Khargeji, Sonia Gandhiji, and Rahul Gandhiji. We’re all working in direction of the identical objective, which is to win the belief of the individuals of Rajasthan.
How do you propose to deal with the anti-incumbency issue in opposition to MLAs, particularly these the get together has renominated?
There is no such thing as a anti-incumbency for the Congress. The individuals of Rajasthan will vote us again to energy due to our welfare schemes and our pro-poor agenda.
“The individuals of Rajasthan will vote us again to energy due to our welfare schemes and our pro-poor agenda.”
The opposition says an enormous burden will fall on the exchequer with the welfare schemes. How do you propose to deal with this?
Our financial parameters are higher than another North Indian State, in keeping with Niti Aayog knowledge. You may be stunned to know that Rajasthan’s financial progress is 11.04 per cent, second solely to Andhra Pradesh within the nation.
Do you anticipate management points in case your get together returns to energy?
Management points are usually not determined by me; we now have set protocols by the Excessive Command. My focus is to win for the Congress get together, and I wish to win for my leaders, Khargeji, Sonia Gandhiji, and Rahul Gandhiji.
Will your authorities, if elected, do a caste census?
The Rajasthan authorities has already determined to conduct a caste census, turning into the second State within the nation to undertake this important train. The choice displays our dedication to making sure social justice and crafting insurance policies knowledgeable by correct demographic knowledge.
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Will the Enforcement Directorate raids in opposition to your son Vaibhav and Govind Dotasra have an effect on your get together adversely?
We see these ED raids as political techniques by the opposition attributable to their nervousness concerning the election outcomes. The ED is harassing the Congress as a result of the BJP is shedding this election. They’ve the ED, I’ve seven ensures. The individuals of Rajasthan are clever and might see by way of these actions, which we consider is not going to impression their belief and help for us that we now have gained by working for his or her welfare and improvement.
Did the Bharat Jodo Yatra galvanise get together staff? Is there a necessity for extra such yatras and campaigns?
The initiative taken by Rahul Gandhiji for peace and unity and to deal with financial disparity have positively galvanised not simply Congress staff however the public at massive. It’s because they see our dedication to this trigger for which Rahul Gandhiji undertook this nationwide yatra.
