Assembly polls: After Rahul`s call, Rajasthan minister enters fray

Jaipur: After a phone call from Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Rajasthan minister Hemaram Choudhary, who had decided not to contest the state Assembly polls, filed his nomination for Gudamalani seat on Tuesday.

Choudhary, the Revenue minister, entered the fray on the last day of filing nominations. "Rahulji called me late last night asking me to file the nomination," he told PTI by telephone from Barmer. "Whether you wish or not, you will have to contest the polls," Choudhary quoted Rahul as saying. "I cannot ignore his direction" and submitted papers for the assembly seat, he said. Choudhary had yesterday refused to file his nomination saying the party should give chance to new faces. In July, apparently upset over the shifting of an oil refinery site, he had resigned from the Cabinet. Choudhary, however, withdrew his resignation after party chief Sonia Gandhi intervened. "This will be my last election," Choudhary said.