Ashok Gehlot backs call for Congress reunion, urges breakaway parties to return and accept Rahul Gandhi’s leadership

Senior Congress leader and former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has strongly endorsed Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) leader Sanjay Raut’s call for Congress breakaway parties to reunite with the grand old party, urging them to wholeheartedly accept Rahul Gandhi as their leader.

In a detailed post on social media platform X, the three-time former Chief Minister and multi-term former Member of Parliament said: “I believe that what Sanjay Raut has said has merit. The time has come. The fight now is to save democracy. When we are all on the battlefield fighting to protect democracy, I support what Sanjay Raut has said.”

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He further stated: “All those parties that became regional parties after separating from Congress should rejoin, and they should wholeheartedly accept Rahul Gandhi as their leader.”

Gehlot said there should be a clear message across the country that Rahul Gandhi is the leader of the INDIA alliance.

“This message should be loud and clear,” he asserted.

The Congress veteran further said: “Then the people will make you successful. They see that on one side is Narendra Modi ji and on the other side is Rahul Gandhi ji. If there is a clear-cut message that all political parties have collectively accepted Rahul Gandhi as their leader, then you will see a change in the country’s voting pattern.”

However, Gehlot clarified that certain parties have always maintained independent identities.

“Shiv Sena has always been a separate party. CPI(M) and CPI have also always been separate entities. We cannot make any claim over them, nor can we urge them in that manner,” he said.

“But the other parties that were formed after separating from Congress should think about it. Even the Samajwadi Party is a separate entity; it was formed independently. We have no complaint against them,” he added.

Expressing concern over the state of democracy, Gehlot said: “I believe that democracy in this country is in great danger — in great danger, in great danger.”

Appealing to the younger generation to participate in public life, he said: “Why do I repeatedly address the younger generation? I say that you should enter politics on the basis of ideology, whether you are students or young professionals.”

“Your time has come. Participate in politics. Read the ideologies of all political parties and reflect on which one you believe best serves the national interest. Join that party — we have no objection. But at least get involved.”

“History will question you in the years to come about the role you played in your time. Do not evade your responsibility. Do not stay away. Come and participate,” the Congress leader said.