achin Pilot alleges that the chief minister undermined, humiliated him constantly. (File photo)
Sachin Pilot and other Congress rebels have challenged in the Rajasthan High Court a move to disqualify them as MLAs. The Sachin Pilot camp are being represented by Mukul Rohatgi and Harish Salve, both top government lawyers in BJP regimes, in court. The Congress has fielded one of its sharpest legal experts, Abhishek Manu Singhvi.
By approaching the court, Sachin Pilot has "gone to a point of no return", the Congress said. Mr Pilot has not reacted positively to the Gandhi's outreach to him - sources said Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has reached out to him four times, while her brother Rahul Gandhi has also been in touch with him, but through emissaries.
Meanwhile, an ally of the BJP -- which is accused of helping Sachin Pilot --has alleged that former Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, the BJP's most prominent leader in the state, is trying to help Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot.
"Former Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje has called up Congress MLAs close to her and asked them to support Ashok Gehlot. She has called each and every Jat MLA in Sikar and Nagaur and asked them to keep distance from Sachin Pilot, I have proof of this," tweeted Hanuman Beniwal, who represents Nagaur in parliament.
Ashok Gehlot has 109 MLAs on his side. The Chief Minister needs 101 MLAs to vote for him in the assembly to retain power.
Mr Pilot, on the other hand, claims at least 20 MLAs are with him. Some 16 were seen at a hotel in Manesar near Delhi, which has been the base station for Congress rebels.
The BJP has 73 MLAs and needs around 30 more to topple the government.
Here are the Live Updates on political developments in Rajasthan:
- It is clear that the BJP is involved in trying to destabilise the Rajasthan government.
- Instead of fighting against China and coronavirus, BJP is indulging in trying to topple the government
- Rajasthan rebel MLAs Bhanwar Lal Sharma, Vishvendra Singh suspended from Congress over allegations of conspiring with BJP against party.
LIVE: Special Congress Party Briefing by Shri @rssurjewala and Shri @GovindDotasra in Jaipur https://t.co/EaEs94geAP
- Congress (@INCIndia) July 17, 2020
Sachin Pilot's Guide To Political SurvivalPilot is young - a mere 42 to Gehlot's 69 - and could be better served by waiting it out with the Congress. Rahul Gandhi has reportedly told him he will become Chief Minister at a later point but for now, it would be tough to send him back in Jaipur and risk Gehlot becoming a lame duck. Instead, Pilot could be given a pivotal position at the centre."
Congress On Ventilator, No Plasma, Remdesivir Can Save It: AAP Leader Raghav ChadhaAmid the political turmoil in Rajasthan, the AAP on Thursday sought to project itself as an alternative, saying the Congress is on "ventilator" and is unlikely to survive while accusing the political parties of playing "dirty politics" at a time when the focus should be on battling the COVID-19 pandemic."
