New Delhi: Ashok Gehlot is likely to be the next chief minister of Rajasthan. According to Congress sources, NDTV reported, the party’s general secretary, who is known as a seasoned leader and has a reputation of keeping the flock together, will take over the chief minister’s mantle for the third time in the state. Reportedly, Congress president Rahul Gandhi had a meeting with Gehlot and Sachin Pilot, the state Congress head who was in the chief ministerial race, on Thursday morning. The party is expected to announce his decision in the evening.It is being said that after two hectic days of negotiations, Rahul Gandhi worked out the arrangement between the two top Congress leaders of the state. As many as 10 legislators seen as close to Pilot are also likely to get ministerial berths in Gehlot’s cabinet. This also paves the way for Pilot’s leadership in the future.Also read: Ashok Gehlot: The Magician in Rajasthan CongressSpeaking to the media on December 12, Pilot said the state’s newly-elected legislators have left it to Gandhi to choose the chief minister. And that the MLAs communicated this to the All India Congress Committee (AICC) representatives – K.C.Venugopal and Avinash Pandey – who had met them in Jaipur. Last year, when the 67-year-old Gehlot was brought to Delhi as the party’s general secretary and made in-charge of “Organisation and Training,” many said that Gandhi to clear the way for Pilot, who was then given the charge of Rajasthan Congress.However, since the campaign for the state elections kicked off, Gehlot was frequently seen in Rajasthan. In one instance, he ran into a controversy when he proclaimed himself as the chief ministerial candidate. “Aap hi ke saamne khada hai (He is standing in front of you),” he had told reporters when asked who would be the chief minister if the Congress wins.Sachin Pilot . Credit: PTIHis statement was not received very well at the AICC as, unlike the BJP, which had projected Vasundhara Raje as its leader, the party had not declared a chief ministerial candidate.However, the scales tipped in his favour probably because the Congress’s victory was not as emphatic as it had hoped. With 99 legislators, the AICC believes Gehlot’s experience and acceptance among the state unit will be more useful than Pilot’s apparent energy and discipline. Gehlot has had two terms in the chief minister’s office – from 1998 to 2003 and then from 2008 to 2013. He is also seen as a leader with wider acceptance than Pilot among the state’s multiple backward caste groups. Many of these groups are inimical to each other. It is often said that Gehlot uses his humour and political skills to efficiently address their interests. He is also seen as an accessible leader. Pilot, sources say, will continue to play an important role in consolidating the Congress unit of the state and remain the most visible face ahead of the 2019 general elections.