Congress presidential polls | As Ashok Gehlot throws his hat in the ring, Sachin Pilot supporters upbeat about his rise as CM

Some also want Ashok Gehlot to continue as Rajasthan CM even if he heads the Congress

After Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot declared that he would contest the Congress president poll, party workers and people in Sachin Pilot's constituency Tonk are upbeat that their long wait to see him heading the state will soon be a reality.

On the other hand, many in Mr. Gehlot's hometown Jodhpur want him to continue as the Chief Minister even if he becomes the Congress' national president.

Ahead of the crucial Congress Legislature Party meeting in Jaipur on Sunday evening, posters carrying quotes such as ' Naye Yug ki Taiyari' (preparing for a new era) in support of Mr. Pilot have surfaced in Jodhpur.

Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) member Saud Saidi said people in Tonk are eagerly waiting for the party to take a decision in favour of Mr. Pilot and they believe that if he becomes the chief minister, the district will benefit immensely.

“As the MLA of Tonk constituency, Mr. Pilot has been quite active. If he becomes the chief minister, the pace at which various developmental works are being undertaken will increase," Mr. Saidi told PTI.

"People have been waiting for four years, and now, it is believed that Mr. Pilot is surely going to become the chief minister. Tonk needs industries and employment opportunities, and if the Chief Minister is from Tonk, the place will certainly get many benefits," he said.

In the 2018 Assembly elections, Mr. Pilot won the Tonk seat with a margin of 54,179 votes, defeating the BJP's Yunus Khan, who was a minister in the Vasundhara Raje government.