NEW DELHI: Congress on Wednesday ended the suspense over whether former Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot and state chief Sachin Pilot would contest the assembly polls but kept alive the leadership debate, with the party deciding that both leaders would file their candidature.

Gehlot, who has gained an elevated profile in the party’s central organisation, has been keen to contest his traditional Sardarpura seat in Jodhpur and his contesting is expected to be a boost for Congress. But the decision to also field Pilot, a two-term MP who will contest his first assembly poll, reflects the party’s strategic dilemma that has seen it maintain an equivalence between the veteran and the younger leader.

The announcement came even as the list of party candidates is expected to be announced on Thursday. “On Congress president Rahul Gandhi ’s instruction and on Gehlotji’s request, I have decided to contest the assembly elections,” Pilot said, minutes after Gehlot announced they would both contest the polls at a press briefing here on Wednesday.

The continued ambiguity over leadership has seen BJP claim that Congress is hindered by factionalism and its strategists have sought to capitalise on what they see as the rival’s hesitation in placing the experienced Gehlot upfront.

Though Pilot did not reveal where he will contest from, the possible choices could be a seat in Dausa or Ajmer, Lok Sabha constituencies he has represented, or in Kota or Bundi in south Rajasthan. There is speculation that the final toss-up may be between Ladpura in Kota and Masuda in Ajmer.

In 2014, Pilot had contested the Lok Sabha election in Ajmer and lost to BJP’s Sanwar Lal Jat. He did not contest the by-election to the Ajmer seat earlier this year. Contesting alongside Gehlot, a party leader said, now puts Pilot at par with the former CM, where both will be seen as equal contenders for the top job.

Congress has not released its list of candidates in Rajasthan yet, and a formal announcement is likely after a meeting of the party’s chief election committee on Thursday. Party sources said with Gehlot and Pilot throwing their hats into the ring, senor party leader CP Joshi may also seek to contest the polls. Joshi is a native of Nathdwara.

Who among the two would contest the election and emerge as chief ministerial candidate has been a subject of much speculation. A section of the party has felt that privileging Gehlot may help as he is seen to command credibility with voters and seen as an experienced hand in running the state.

Gehlot, however, clarified that it has been the party’s tradition in Rajasthan to never announce a CM candidate in advance. “We have said many times that whatever Rahul Gandhi decides on chief minister we will abide by that. It’s a tradition for Congress in Rajasthan to not declare CM before elections,” he said.

Gehlot also refused to be drawn into a debate over why the party had announced a CM face in Punjab, but was refraining to do so in poll-bound Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. “There can be exceptions,” he said.

