Rajasthan Political Crisis Live Updates: ‘Come With Open Mind, Will Resolve All Issues,’ Congress Appeals To Sachin Pilot

The rebellion of Rajasthan’s Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot has created ripples in the political scene -- all the way from the state to Delhi. After Pilot claimed that Ashok Gehlot-led Congress government in the state was in minority, and claimed that he had the support of 30 MLAs,  

Later, however, the disgruntled Congress leader said that he has "no plans to join the BJP”, keeping the journalists and observers guessing about his next move. Meanwhile, a whip was issued to all the Congress MLAs in Rajasthan, asking them to attend the Congress Legislature Party meeting today.

Read All The Updates Here: 

12: 05 PM: "We have constantly been in touch with Pilot for the past 48 hours. It won't be proper to disclose publicly everything that was discussed," the Congress leader said.

12:04 PM: "The CLP meeting will begin later today. We appeal Sachin Pilot and all MLAs to attend it. He or any other MLA who is not in Jaipur can inform Avinash Pande about unavailability or till when they can reach Jaipur to attend the meeting and we will be happy to factor that in. Ajay Maken, Avinash Pande and I have been speaking to all our MLAs since yesterday; we have discussed all the issues and we have sorted everything out. If anyone still has some other problem, they are welcome to come forward and tell us. We will sit and find a solution like a family," says Surjewala.

11:58 AM: "We respect Sachin Pilot, he is a member of our family. When a family member gets upset, he doesn't work to bring the family down. We appeal Pilot to come with an open mind and discuss all the issues," says the Congress leader. 

11:56 AM: "The IT raids that have started since yesterday will not destabilise our government. The IT has come, the ED will also come but we will not let the BJP succeed," Surjewala says.

11:54 AM: Referring to the IT raids in Jaipur and other cities, Surjewala took a swipe at BJP and said: "BJP has three frontal organisations: ED, CBI and IT. Whenever BJP wants to destroy democracy, these three frontal organisations come forward to help them."

11:52 AM: "Because of personal differences it is not proper to weaken an elected government or help BJP. If there are differences, please come and talk. Under the guidance of Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, we can sort out the differences and work together," says Surjewala.

11:50 AM: "In the past 48 hours, Congress leadership, several CWC members have been in touch with Sachin Pilot. We appeal to Sachin Pilot and all MLAs, there can be personal competition but it is our responsibility to  strengthen a democratically elected government," says Randeep Surjewala.

11:25 AM: Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot has said he will not join the Bharatiya Janata Party. While the speculations are rife about his next move, a close aide of Pilot says he might float a new political party. 

11:23 AM: Ashok Gehlot camp is pushing for disciplinary action against Sachin Pilot for his anti-party activities and skipping today's CLP meet.

11:20 AM: Congress claims support of 114 MLAs so far. Party leaders K.C. Venugopal, Avinash Pande, Ajay Maken likely to reach out to Sachin Pilot again after the CLP meet concludes.

11:10 AM: “Sachin Pilot was the rightful candidate for the post of Rajasthan CM but Ashok Gehlot took the charge, a conflict in the party began since then. What's happening today is the result of that conflict. The state government has lost the majority,” says Rajasthan BJP president Satish Punia.

11:00 AM: Over 90 MLAs at Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot's residence in Jaipur, for Congress Legislative Party meeting, ANI reported. The meeting is underway.

10:45 AM: After the IT Department conducted raids on close confidantes of Ashok Gehlot in Jaipur, Congress leader Randeep Surjewala said: “After all, BJP's lawyers came on the field. The Income Tax Department started raids in Jaipur. When will ED arrive?"

10:30 AM: “BJP will not be successful in its attempts to topple the Congress government in Rajasthan. All our Congress MLAs and our alliance MLAs are with Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot. All of them will be attending the meeting of Congress Legislative Party today,” Congress MLA Mahender Chaudhary.

10:23 AM: Ahead of the Congress legislature party meeting, party's Rajasthan In-charge Avinash Pande has said that Sachin Pilot is not responding to calls and has not been communicating. Pande said the party wants to hear him out but "indiscipline will not be tolerated".

10:20 AM: The Income Tax Department is conducting searches in four cities, including Delhi and Jaipur, in connection with a tax evasion case against a Rajasthan-based jewellery group, officials said on Monday. 

10:15 AM: Congress leader Avinash Pande said a whip has been issued to all the party MLAs, asking them to attend the Congress Legislature Party meeting at 10.30 am.