Rajasthan political crisis live updates: Sachin Pilot says not joining BJP

Read: Some leaders in Rajasthan trying to fuel speculation that I am joining BJP but I am not doing so, Sachin Pilot says

Rajasthan Speaker CP Joshi has issued notices to Sachin Pilot and other rebel Congress MLAs after the party sought their disqualification from the state assembly

Disqualification notices to be sent to Sachin Pilot, other MLAs for not attending CLP meet: Congress

“The notices of disqualification will be issued to all such MLAs, including Sachin Pilot, who were absent from the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting through the Speaker of legislative assembly,” AICC general secretary Avinash Pande said on Wednesday. He said the party has filed a petition before the Speaker for dismissal of such MLAs. If replies by the MLAs are not found to be justified, it is up to the Speaker to decide for action, he added.

Notice issued to Sachin Pilot and18 other party members for not attending Congress Legislative Party meetings. If they don't respond within two days, then it will be considered that they are withdrawing their membership from CLP: Rajasthan Congress in-charge Avinash Pande

Read: I’m not joining BJP, Sachin Pilot says

Sachin Pilot to address media at 1pm

State executive, all departments, cells of Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee dissolved

All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary and party in-charge for Rajasthan Avinash Pande dissolved all cells and departments of the state party unit. Taking to Twitter, Pandey announced the decision late on Tuesday night. In another tweet, he said that no congressmen will communicate with the media without the permission of newly appointed Rajasthan Congress president Govind Singh Dotasara.

Rajasthan crisis may give BJP more ammo to target Cong ‘dynasty’

Even if Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot survives for now, the rebellion by the Pilot camp could come as a major gain for BJP as the government will be critically dependent on Independents and sundry parties and thus remain vulnerable. It is likely to also strengthen BJP’s arguments the hold of the Gandhi-Nehru family over the Grand Old Party is diminishing by the day with most of the younger leaders unhappy with the leadership and making their anger public while even exploring “better” political future for themselves.

Read: Outpouring of support for Pilot, colleagues regret his exit

Sachin Pilot’s sacking as Rajasthan deputy chief minister and state Congress chief and impending exit from the party brought out an outpouring of support and regret from party colleagues who called him a talented leader and wished things had not come to such a pass though some questioned his “over-ambitiousness”. The sense of regret is all the more significant as it seems to reinforce the view that younger leaders do not have space and revives speculation that the party is chary of anyone gaining prominence in comparison to Rahul Gandhi.

Pilot changed his Twitter profile and identified himself simply as the MLA of Tonk assembly seat and former minister.

Soon after Pilot's tweet, AICC in-charge of the state Avinash Pande said, "True. You rattled the truth a lot in association with the BJP but could not defeat it, nor will you be able to do so in future. Satyameva Jayate."

Party insiders said a cabinet reshuffle would take place soon. The three new appointments of Dotasra (Jat), Shekhawat (Rajput) and Ghogra (tribal) in the party organisation have been made keeping in mind the state's social make-up. The Jat community is the largest in the state, followed by Brahmins. Before Pilot, the PCC chief was a Jat, Dr Chandrabhan, who had succeeded C P Joshi, the current assembly speaker. To pacify the Gujjar community, to which Pilot belongs, the party may increase the community’s representation in the cabinet.

Congress withheld any move to disqualify rebel MLAs, perhaps with an eye on a likely floor test. If the rebel strength does not decline, then disqualification proceedings might be considered. Some Congress leaders, though unhappy over Pilot's exit, felt the leader had over-extended himself.

So far, Pilot’s camp has said he will not join BJP though there is speculation over various formulae that might include the leader floating a regional party or being accommodated at the Centre in the cabinet. It is, however, clear that BJP and Pilot will need to join forces to challenge Gehlot.

The next act in the political drama will depend on Pilot's ability to mobilise MLAs and a likely floor test Gehlot may face. BJP leaders like Union water resources minister Gajendra Shekhawat said anyone who believed in the party’s beliefs was welcome.