Ashok Gehlot meets Rahul Gandhi, Congress’ Rajasthan in-charge says it’s a routine meeting

New Delhi, Oct 16 (Agency) Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Saturday met Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, hours after the Congress Working Committee meeting, amid talks of a rejig in the cabinet, and a rift between the CM and party leader Sachin Pilot. Gehlot, who had been unwell and away from Delhi, met the Congress leader on Saturday evening. Party’s in-charge for Rajasthan Ajay Maken said it was a “routine meeting”. “It is a routine meeting, there is nothing special,” Maken said in a brief reply to questions from the reporters. The meeting comes in the backdrop of plans for expansion of the state cabinet, and an organisational rejig. Maken had said on September 16 that both would be done once Gehlot’s health improves.

The Rajasthan CM had undergone an angioplasty in August end. It also comes as the rift between Gehlot and his former deputy chief minister Pilot continues. Last year, Pilot and 18 other Rajasthan Congress MLAs had rebelled against Gehlot and left Rajasthan. They returned Congress high command pacified them, and a truce was called. He was removed from the post of the deputy CM and the Pradesh Congress Committee chief after the episode. Maken had held extensive discussions with all Congress MLAs in the state in July.