Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot challenges Vasundhara Raje to debate on his 7 guarantees

JAIPUR: Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Friday challenged former CM Vasundhara Raje to a public debate with him on the seven guarantees he announced on behalf of Congress recently. It is the first time that Gehlot has directly challenged Raje to a public debate.

Gehlot's challenge came a day after Raje ridiculed Congress over the seven guarantees while speaking at the nomination rally of a BJP candidate at Bali in Bhilwara district.
"The main issues in Rajasthan elections 2023 are the seven guarantees being given by Congress. I challenge the opposition party's leader Vasundhara Raje Scindia to have a debate with me on #Congress's 7 Guarantees," Gehlot said in a post on X.
'Cong does not have its own guarantee'
Raje had said at Bali on Thursday, "Congress, which does not have its own guarantee, has started giving guarantees".
The CM's seven guarantees, announced on October 27, are seen as a major poll plank to woo farmers, students and women. He has also been holding tours at select places to promote the seven guarantees, which Congress is projecting as the second phase of social welfare schemes by his government. In her election rally on Thursday, Raje had said, "Gehlot's promises at the eleventh hour are nothing but show-offs. He has given no relief to the people in the past five years and now gives them false hopes. The public knows that these announcements of Gehlot will last only for days before being forgotten."
The seven guarantees include free laptops or tablets to first-year students at government colleges; English-medium education for all; an annual honorarium of Rs 10,000 to the woman head of a family if Congress returns to power in Rajasthan. TOI contacted Raje's office for her comments on Gehlot's challenge but did not receive any response.