Up to high command to pick CM face: Gehlot

Former Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot today sought to downplay the controversy over the projection of the Congress' chief ministerial candidate, saying it was up to the party high command to take a decision.

The controversy was created after a party leader, Lal Chand Kataria, demanded that Gehlot should be projected as the CM face to "save" the Congress in the state. The demand was intensified after Gehlot, who has been the chief minister for two terms, had remarked that "the face has been in front of people for ten years".

"There is absolutely no dispute or controversy in the party. My priority is to revive the Congress and the issue or any post is secondary. I have said several times before that wherever I am or whatever responsibility the party gives me, I will continue to serve the people of Rajasthan," Gehlot told reporters here.

Holding a section of media responsible for the misinterpretation of statements, Gehlot blamed the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party for creating the controversy. "There is no dispute here. In the Congress' tradition, the party high command takes the call on the basis of what legislators and workers thinks," he said.

Avinash Pande, the party general secretary incharge for Rajasthan, had warned Congressmen yesterday against making unwarranted statements ahead of the upcoming assembly elections.

Targeting Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, Gehlot said, "People gave the party a huge mandate, but people got disappointed with her (Raje's) rule and behaviour. Now, there is anger against Raje and people want to throw the BJP out," he said.

On the chief minister's proposed "gaurav yatra" beginning from August 4, he said it should be "kuraj" or "bad governance" yatra.