Lok Sabha Elections 2014: Baba brigade takes charge in Rajasthan, Ashok Gehlot fades out

JAIPUR: For the first time in decades, former Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot appears to be sidelined in state politics with the central leadership aligning with young Turks, led by Sachin Pilot, in distribution of tickets.

The party has declared candidates for 23 of the 25 parliamentary seats in the state so far. The list of candidates is packed with leaders from the "Rahul brigade". Pilot, who is party state president, and former Union minister C P Joshi, who are members of team Gandhi, have been able to accommodate their followers. With the selection of candidates of its choice, the central leadership has been able to enforce its gen-next mantra on the state unit. During the assembly polls the "old brigade" held sway in the state.

At the launch of Congress' Lok Sabha campaign from Deoli in state's Tonk district last week, Rahul publicly emphasized that he had tasked Pilot to bring in young leadership in the state. Gehlot was present during the function. The absence of Gehlot's son Vaibhav's name from the state LS list — which is now complete but for the two constituencies of Dausa and Bharatpur (reserved for SC) — has come as a an indicator of the changing political scenario in the state.

Vaibhav had staked claim for the Tonk-Sawai Madhopur and Jalore seats. The Tonk-Sawai Madhopur seat, however, has been offered to Azharuddin. Pilot is being credited for this. The PCC chief has also been able to field first-time legislator Ashok Chandana from Bhilwara.

The Jalore seat, on the other hand, has gone to Joshi loyalist Udai Lal Aanjana, who used to be in every delegation that complained to Sonia Gandhi against Gehlot's leadership.