Congress names Dudi leader of opposition in Rajasthan

Rameshwar Dudi, Congress legislator from Nokha constituency in Bikaner district of Rajasthan, has been named leader of his party in the state assembly.

Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee spokesperson Archana Sharma said: "Dudi has been named leader of opposition in the state assembly after the party high command cleared his name today."

Political analysts feel that by naming Dudi, a Jat, as leader, the party is trying to bring Jats, who dominate about 60 of the state's 200 assembly constituencies, back into the party fold.

The Congress in the 2013 state assembly elections in Rajasthan won only 21 seats.

Union Minister and Congress youth leader Sachin Pilot was named the new president of the party's Rajasthan unit Jan 13.

Pilot is likely to take charge Jan 21, sources said Monday.

Pilot's name was cleared for the post of Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee president Monday by the party high command, following instructions from United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson Sonia Gandhi, sources said.

A senior Congress leader told IANS that Pilot is considered close to the Gandhi family, especially Rahul Gandhi.

He is being appointed to wriggle the party out of trouble after it faced a humiliating defeat by the BJP in the last assembly polls.

"His task is to mobilise workers ahead of the general elections scheduled to take place later this year," the leader said.

Rajasthan has 25 Lok Sabha seats.

Pilot, who is member of parliament from Ajmer constituency, is union minister for corporate affairs.

He is replacing senior leader Chandrabhan, who was defeated in the assembly elections.