By NNN-PTI,
Jaipur, India : Ashok Gehlot, who spearheaded the Congress campaign and brought it back to power in assembly elections in Rajasthan, was today sworn in as Chief Minister for a second term in office.
57-year-old Gehlot, who was the Chief Minister between 1998 and 2003, was sworn in at a public ceremony in front of a large number of Congressmen by Governor S K Singh. He was the only one to take oath today.
Gehlot, who brings vast political and administrative experience to the job, also as a former Union Minister and grassroots worker beat rival claims in the party with his clean image and on the basis of the seasoned campaign in the elections.
His election on Thursday as Congress legislative party leader was preceded by intense jockeying for power by rival faction chiefs, including on caste line that some one from the Jat community should be given the top political job.
C P Joshi, the party’s state unit President who lost by one vote in Nathdwara constituency, was also in the race apart from senior leaders like Union Minister Sis Ram Ola and Parasram Maderna, both Jats.
There were also ugly scenes of clashes between supporters of Gehlot and Ola in front of the guest house where the central observers, including Digvijay Singh, were staying.