‘If Sonia Gandhi Wanted Me As Congress Chief...’: Gehlot Rejects Claims He Turned Down Top Post

Published 7 June 2026 · local

‘If Sonia Gandhi Wanted Me As Congress Chief...’: Gehlot Rejects Claims He Turned Down Top Post Published By, Last Updated: June 07, 2026, 20:02 IST

‘If Sonia Gandhi Wanted Me As Congress Chief...’: Gehlot Rejects Claims He Turned Down Top Post Published By, Last Updated: June 07, 2026, 20:02 IST Ashok Gehlot says he never rejected the Congress president's post, alleges a conspiracy over the 2022 Rajasthan crisis and denies orchestrating the MLA revolt. Ashok Gehlot also denied orchestrating the rebellion by his loyalist MLAs. (Image: PTI/File) Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Sunday reignited discussion over the Congress presidential election of 2022, rejecting the perception that he chose to remain Chief Minister instead of taking over the party’s top post. Speaking to reporters in Jaipur, Gehlot said he would never have turned down the opportunity if the Congress leadership had wanted him to become party president. I Never Rejected Congress Chief’s Post: Gehlot “I know the stature of the Congress President’s post.. (Mahatma) Gandhiji has been President, Pandit Nehru, Motilal Nehru has been President, who hasn’t been, Sardar Patel has been party President, if Sonia Gandhi and the Congress were making me the Congress President, would I have refused?," he asked.

#WATCH | Jaipur, Rajasthan: Congress leader Ashok Gehlot says, “…If Sonia Gandhi and the Congress were making me the Congress President, would I have refused? This was a conspiracy. The observers arrived suddenly…" pic.twitter.com/ofKjEzUXjz— ANI (@ANI) June 7, 2026 “The situation was so created, I think it was a big conspiracy. The observers arrived suddenly, and I got defamed. People think that Ashok Gehlot wanted to remain Chief Minister and did not want to become Congress President, so the revolt happened," the e Rajasthan CM added. Gehlot Denies Role In Rajasthan Congress Revolt Gehlot also denied orchestrating the rebellion by his loyalist MLAs, which ultimately derailed the Congress leadership’s plans for a transition in Rajasthan. “Even people close to me abroad, they also think the same that Ashok Gehlot wanted to remain Chief Minister, he orchestrated the revolt. How can I explain to them, I am explaining to you," he added.

The remarks revive memories of the 2022 Rajasthan Congress crisis, when Gehlot was widely seen as the frontrunner to succeed Sonia Gandhi as Congress president. Ahead of the election, party observers Mallikarjun Kharge and Ajay Maken visited Jaipur to hold consultations on a possible leadership change in Rajasthan, with Sachin Pilot viewed as a likely successor. However, more than 90 MLAs loyal to Gehlot submitted their resignations, triggering a political storm and preventing the passage of a resolution authorising the Congress leadership to choose the next chief minister. The crisis eventually ended Gehlot’s bid for the party presidency, and Mallikarjun Kharge went on to become Congress chief. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit About the Author Manisha Roy Manisha Roy is a Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com's general desk. She comes with an experience of over 5 years in media industry.