Congress Legislature Party leader: More MLAs throw in their hats

More Congress MLAs have staked claim for the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader, even as the party began a two-day meeting of its newly elected legislators to choose its leader in the Assembly on Wednesday afternoon.

The meeting commenced at the party headquarters in Ahmedabad in presence of Gujarat Congress in-charge Ashok Gehlot and ex-Union minister Jitendra Singh, who have been appointed as observers. “The observers held discussions with MLAs and sought their feedback about the new CLP leader. They will meet MLAs individually tomorrow, after which a formal announcement regarding the new leader will be made,” state Congress president Bharatsinh Solanki said.

Solanki said that the party’s MLAs passed a resolution authorising Congress president Rahul Gandhi to pick the CLP leader. A resolution thanking voters for supporting Congress party in the elections was also passed. While Paresh Dhanani, the MLA from Amreli seat, is seen as the front-runner for being appointed as the CLP leader, at least three other senior MLAs have also staked claim. Kunvarji Bavaliya, MLA from Jasdan seat, pushed his case citing his seniority, and the fact that the party did very well in Saurashtra.

“The party performed very well in Saurashtra and won 30 seats. The CLP leader …read more