Sachin Pilot and Ashok Gehlot at AICC headquarters in New Delhi (Express Photo by Amit Mehra/File)
Rajasthan Government crisis Live Updates: A day after Congress leader Sachin Pilot was sacked as deputy chief minister, Speaker C P Joshi’s office has issued notice to rebel MLAs seeking their reply by July 17. The notice was learned to have been issued late yesterday. Congress chief whip Mahesh Joshi had petitioned Speaker CP Joshi for disqualification of rebel MLAs yesterday.
Pilot, who was shown the door after he failed to attend the CLP meetings for two consecutive days, is understood to have the support of at least 18 legislators. Pilot’s removal has set the stage for another battle in Rajasthan — one that has all the signs of a protracted legal and technical fight.
Sources said Gehlot and AICC observers Ajay Maken and Randeep Surjewala held many rounds of discussions with Abhishek Singhvi, party leader and lawyer, to draw up a plan for the legal battle. At the same time, the threat of disqualification, sources said, can be used to try and bring back some of the MLAs from the Pilot camp.
Even as the political crisis in the state deepens, Rajasthan BJP unit has thrown its hat in the ring and will meet today to discuss the further strategy. Former chief minister and senior BJP leader Vasundhara Raje is expected to arrive in Jaipur today to attend a crucial strategy session of the party.
Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot with Sachin Pilot (File)
Nineteen rebels have been issued notice by the Speaker and asked to respond by Friday. If the rebels are disqualified, it will be an advantage for the Ashok Gehlot-led Congress government in Rajasthan as the majority-mark in case of a floor test will be brought down.
The BJP, meanwhile, will go into a huddle today. Senior leaders including former Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, BJP national vice president Om Mathur, state president Satish Poonia, Leader of Opposition Gulab Chand Katariya, national joint general secretary (organisation) V Satish and state organisation secretary Chandrashekhar are expected to attend the meeting to decide the party strategy and future course of action.
A day after Congress leader Sachin Pilot was sacked as deputy chief minister, Speaker C P Joshi's office has issued notice to rebel MLAs seeking their reply by July 17. The notice was learned to have been issued late yesterday. Congress chief whip Mahesh Joshi had petitioned Speaker CP Joshi for disqualification of rebel MLAs yesterday. Sources said Gehlot and AICC observers Ajay Maken and Randeep Surjewala held many rounds of discussions with Abhishek Singhvi, party leader and lawyer, to draw up a plan for the legal battle. At the same time, the threat of disqualification, sources said, can be used to try and bring back some of the MLAs from the Pilot camp.