Will contest Raj polls unitedly, no space for indiscipline, says Cong

NEW DELHI: The Congress high command announced on Thursday that it stands united in Rajasthan, and resolved to defeat the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in upcoming assembly elections, but underlined that indiscipline will not be tolerated in what was a clear message to the state unit roiled by factionalism between chief minister Ashok Gehlot and senior leader Sachin Pilot

- Saubhadra Chatterji

Congress general secretary KC Venugopal said all the leaders who attended the strategy meeting on Rajasthan "unanimously decided" that the Congress can win the Rajasthan elections, "provided there is unity". He added that the party will release its list of candidates in first week of September.

"Twenty-nine leaders from Rajasthan Congress including the CM and state unit chief participated in this meeting. All the leaders decided that Congress can win Rajasthan elections provided there is unity among Rajasthan Congress. Today, all leaders decided to fight the elections unitedly. On the basis of winning ability, the candidates will be selected. The list of candidates will be announced in first week of September," Venugopal said. Apart from Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, party leaders Rahul Gandhi, KC Venugopal, AICC in-charge of Rajasthan Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa were present in the meeting. This is the second meeting in as many months on Rajasthan involving the two leaders.

Venugopal refrained from commenting on any peace formula between Gehlot and his former deputy Pilot. When asked under whose leadership the party will contest the polls, he said, "We never announce the chief ministerial candidate, but we will fight the election together and unitedly."