The leader of opposition in the Gujarat state assembly is likely to be announced on Thursday after the Gujarat Congress speaks to 77 of its elected representatives, to get a sense of who would they want as their leader.
On Wednesday, party in-charge for Gujarat, Ashok Gehlot, Congress leader Jitendra Singh and state party president Bharatsinh Solanki met the newly elected MLAs at the Rajiv Gandhi Bhavan in Ahmedabad.
The party, after speaking to its MLAs, will announce the names of opposition leader and the whip.
41-year-old Paresh Dhanani and senior Congress leader Kuvarji Bavalia are among the front-runners for the top post. Eleven time MLA Mohansinh Rathwa, previous opposition leader in, might not be selected due to his age.
While Dhanani is a Patidar, Bavalia belongs to the Koli community that has a say on about 45 assembly seats. Gujarat has 182 assembly seats.
Sources said that name of Vikram Madam, MLA from Jamnagar region, is also in contention.
Congress sources said that the party high command would take a final call.
Those in contention said that they would accept whatever role the party gives to them.
Solanki said that Rathwa moved a proposal stating that the decision taken by the party high command would be final. The resolution was adopted unanimously.
Media entry was restricted inside the Congress headquarters.
On Wednesday night, the party hosted dinner for its MLAs at a club on the S.G. Highway in Ahmedabad. Senior state party leaders also attended.
