PTI

JAIPUR, Dec 11: Ashok Gehlot, who spearheaded the Congress campaign to reinstall its government defeating BJP in Rajasthan, is to be the new Chief Minister of the state on Thursday, ending three days of intense jockeying for power by various factions including the jat lobby.
      
57-year-old Gehlot, a former chief minister, was unanimously elected leader of the Congress Legislature Party, AICC observer Digvijay Singh, said after intense consultations with MLAs after a CLP meeting authorised Sonia Gandhi to nominate the new leader.
      
The chief minister-elect said later that he would work to provide an "able, transparent and competent" government that will cater to all the sections, castes and communities of people.
      
Earlier in the day there were ugly scenes of clash between supporters of Gehlot and Union Minister Sis Ram Ola, a jat, before a state guest house where the AICC observers were staying.  They exchanged blows and indulged in fisticuffs before police separated them.
     
The moment the elections results were on Monday, there was intense jockeying for power by rival camps. PCC President C P Joshi, who lost by one vote in Nathdwara constituency, expressed his interest saying there was nothing in the party that could prevent a non-MLA from becoming a chief minister.
      
There were also demands from jat bodies to make someone from the community the chief minister.  The names of Sis Ram Ola and Parasram Maderna were among those that did the rounds in this connection.
       
The Congress fell short of a majority in the 200-member House by securing 96 seats, five short of the magic mark of 101.
       
Digvijay Singh said that they would be carrying a letter to Governor S K Singh intimating him  of CLP Gehlot's election as leader and that he be invited to form the government.
      
Asked if a deputy Chief Minister would be appointed he said Gehlot would meet the party leadership in Delhi and consult them. No decision has been taken, he added.
      
Singh said 11 Independent MLAs have extended support to the Congress party and the Governor would be conveyed about their decision to  support the Congress government.
      
Earlier in the day, after the CLP failed to decide on the leadership, it authorised Sonia Gandhi to nominate the new leader. Singh and other observers held consultations with the newly-elected MLAs individually and after that reverted back to Gandhi.