Rajasthan Crisis LIVE Updates: 2-judge HC Bench to Hear This Evening Sachin Pilot's Amended Plea against Disqualification Notice

Recap | Earlier, Congress chief whip Mahesh Joshi, who had written to the Speaker seeking the MLAs' disqualification, had also approached the Rajasthan HC, asking to be heard before it passes any order. The 19 MLAs were sent notices on Tuesday by the Speaker after the Congress complained that they had defied a party whip to attend two Congress Legislature Party meetings. The Pilot camp, however, argues that a party whip applies only when the assembly is in session. 

Recap | The petition first came up Justice Satish Chandra Sharma at 3 pm. But advocate Harish Salve sought time to file a fresh petition. The matter was heard again at about 5 pm when the judge referred it to a division bench.

Pilot Camp Plea Likely to be Heard at 7:30 pm | A division bench of the Rajasthan High Court will hear at 7:30 pm a petition filed by Sachin Pilot and 18 other dissident leaders, challenging notices from the Speaker over a Congress move to disqualify them from the state assembly.

Congress Defends Rahul's Silence | While the Congress was facing crisis in Rajasthan due to open rebellion by Sachin Pilot, members of the party dedfended his silence on the issue. Congress General Secretary K.C. Venugopal said Rahul Gandhi was busy in building the party. "Rahul Gandhi's vision has ensured association of more youth with the party. They are getting a platform to lead from the front and represent the pulse of the nation.

Case Referred to 2-Judge Bench | The case has been referred to a 2-judge bench of the Rajasthan High Court. Meanwhile, Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for the state government opposes the petition, but Harish Salve says that it can be accepted.

Single-judge Bench Hearing Pilot's Plea | A single-judge bench will hear Sachin Pilot's petition at 5 pm today.

Pilot Camp MLAs Moved to Another Hotel in Manesar | Some Rajasthan MLAs have been shifted from ITC Grand to Best Western Resort in Gurgaon's Manesar. Many vehicles with Rajasthan registration numbers have been parked at the resort. Sources say that the MLAs were shifted late at night. MLAs of the Pilot camp were housed at the ITC Grand.

Pilot Camp to File Fresh Plea against Disqualification | The Rajasthan High Court granted time to Sachin Pilot and 18 other dissident Congress MLAs to file an amended petition challenging the disqualification notices issued to them by the Rajasthan Speaker. Read full article here

Rajasthan Speaker ‘s lawyer Prateek Kasliwal says that the Speaker has the right to notice even outside the House on the complaint of the political party. "We will counter the allegation of  CM’s pressure also," he said.

Congress on Ventilator: AAP | Alluding to the Rajasthan political crisis, Aam Aadmi Party MLA and National Spokesperson Raghav Chadha says that the Congress party has no future, and is on ventilator, taking its last breath. The 135-year-old Congress party is on ventilator today and no plasma therapy, hydroxychloroquine or Remdesivir or any other medicine can save it now, he added.

Sachin Pilot's Hearing Adjourned | The Rajasthan High Court asks Sachin Pilot to file a fresh petition tomorrow and a new bench to be constituted to hear it. Hearing has been adjourned for today.

UPDATE | Rajasthan High Court asks Sachin Pilot to file fresh petition tomorrow. As a new becnh will constituted to hear the fresh petition. 

Having got the upper hand thus far, Gehlot was unusually harsh and aggressive on Pilot on Wednesday even as there were reports of Congress leadership in Delhi attempting to reach out to Pilot camping…

Abhishek Manu Singhvi to Represent Rajasthan Govt | In the court hearing scheduled at 3 pm today, Abhishek Manu Singhvi will represent the Rajasthan Assembly Speaker at the High Court. 

Pilot's Rebellion Was Brewing for Long, Say Sources | The rebellion led by Sachin Pilot had been brewing for long and that the notice issued to him by the Special Operations Group may have forced him to play his hand immediately, without waiting for the required numbers to topple the government, said sources. The notice was for a probe into an alleged bid to topple the Congress-led state government. 

19 MLAs Sent Notices by Speaker after Cong Complains that MLAs Defied Party Whip | The Rajasthan High Court will hear on Thursday afternoon a petition filed on behalf of the Sachin Pilot camp, challenging a move to disqualify dissident MLAs from the state assembly. The plea against the disqualification notices sent from the Speaker's office to Pilot and 18 other Congress MLAs will be heard by Justice Satish Chandra Sharma.  The 19 MLAs were sent notices Tuesday by the Speaker after the Congress complained that the MLAs had defied a party whip to attend two Congress Legislature Party meetings.

'Pilot's Membership Will Go if He Does Not Appear Before Speaker or Get a Stay from Court': Congress Sources | "Why to suspend? His membership will go if he does not appear before the Speaker or get a stay from the court," a Congress party source told News18. 

UPDATE | Speaker is Under Influence of Ashok Gehlot, States Pilot's Petition 

Sachin Pilot In Touch With Loyalist Clan | Sachin Pilot in touch with all his MLAs staying in Gurugram ITC Bharat Hotel. He has provided them mobile phones and sim card and spoke to them via video conferencing.

UPDATE | Sachin Pilot Moves to High Court against speaker's notice, along with 18 other MLAs against disqualification notices. The hearing is scheduled for today at 3 pm. 

PIlot's Loyalist Reacts on Notice Served to Rebel MLAs | An MLA from Sachin Pilot's clan of loyalists- Bhanwar Lal sharma reacted on notice served to Rebel MLA’s and said it is illegal. Congress Incharge of Rajasthan Avinash Pandey has not read the constitution, he added. 

Congress general secretary Randeep Surjewala on Wednesday said Pilot should free the Congress MLAs who are staying in two luxury hotels and under the security.

UPDATE | The new cabinet swearing-in ceremony which was supposed to take place on July 16, has been cancelled for now. Secretariat officials had, however, been prepared for the event but received no order for the same from the officials. 

Pilot Likely to Move to SC Against Speaker's Notice | Sachin Pilot is likely to move to court today against the speaker's notice. Pilot's legal team is still contemplating whether to move to Supreme Court or the High Court, said sources. 

UPDATE | Congress party puts notice at MLA Indraj Singh Gurjar's residence in Kotputli, Jaipur for not attending the recent Congress Legislative Party meetings. He has to respond to the notice within 2 days.

While Ashok Gehlot continues to further push Sachin Pilot to the point of no return, the Congress on Wednesday has yet again said its doors are open for him.

Congress' Kapil Sibal Reacts on Rumours of Pilot Joining BJP

False rumours spread to malign

Pilot : “ I am not joining BJP “

I guess then legislators at a hotel in Manesar is merely a vacation in Haryana’s comfort zone under BJP’s watchful eye

What about “ ghar wapsi “?

— Kapil Sibal (@KapilSibal) July 16, 2020

Rahul Gandhi Has Lost His Arms in Scindia and Pilot: Gujarat Deputy CM | Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has lost both his arms in Jyotiraditya Scindia and Sachin Pilot, Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel said on Wednesday and added that a weaker Congress is good for the BJP. "We all saw what had happened in Madhya Pradesh. Now, it's happening again in Rajasthan. There seems to be some fault in the functioning of the Congress leadership," Patel told reporters in Gandhinagar. Read the full story here.

Congress general secretary Randeep Surjewala on Wednesday said Pilot should free the Congress MLAs who are staying in two luxury hotels and under the security.

No Talks Between Sachin Pilot, BJP: Gajendra Singh Shekhawat | Union minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on Wednesday said that no talk has been held between Sachin Pilot and the BJP, comments that came after rebel Congress leader noted that he would not be joining the party, reported PTI.