Ashok Gehlot’s son Kamal Nath likely to be inducted into Congress 2 list: Sources

Kamal Nath, Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot likely to be inducted into Congress 2 list

New Delhi:

According to sources, the sons of Congress veterans Ashok Gehlot and Kamal Nath are likely to be included in the party’s list of candidates for the second round in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. Congress’ Central Election Committee, which is responsible for finalizing candidates, met yesterday and held discussions on 62 constituencies in six states and Union Territories. These states include Assam, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Gujarat, Daman and Diu.

Sources said the party’s selection for 50 of these seats has been finalized. Ashok Gehlot’s son Vaibhav, a member of the All India Congress Committee, is likely to be fielded from Jallore, sources said. Vaibhav Gehlot had contested the 2019 general elections from Jodhpur but lost to BJP heavyweight Gajendra Singh Shekhawat.

Sources said Kamal Nath’s son Nakul is likely to be re-elected from the Madhya Pradesh Chhindwara Lok Sabha seat, which he won in the 2019 polls. This comes after rumors circulated last month that Mr Nath might quit the Congress and join the Bharatiya Janata Party. The congressional veteran later denied any such possibility and said it was just a rumor.

Prominent Congress leaders discussed include Mr. Nath, Mr. Gehlot, Sachin Pilot, Harish Rawat and Digvijaya Singh. Sources also said that many senior leaders of these states, which are currently ruled by the BJP, do not want to contest the polls.

Congress released its first list of candidates for the general election on Friday. Rahul Gandhi was chosen to contest from Amethi in Uttar Pradesh but he lost to Union Minister Smriti Irani last time while Shashi Tha Shashi Tharoor was re-elected from Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala, where he has been winning since 2009.

Former Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel and Congress supremo KC Venugopal from Alapuzzha in Kerala will contest from Rajnandgaon.