Rajasthan crisis live updates: Hearing on petition filed by Sachin Pilot to resume in Rajasthan HC at 10 am

We’re in Haryana as Rajasthan cops hounding us: Pilot camp

The Sachin Pilot camp has countered Congress’s criticism that the rebel MLAs have sought shelter in Haryana where BJP is in office, saying CM Ashok Gehlot has held party MLAs in a resort and should allow them to go to their homes. Sources close to Pilot said MLAs opposed to Gehlot were being “hounded” by Rajasthan police and they were in no position to return to Jaipur where they would be subjected to coercive tactics. “A special operations group has been set after them, Congress has no basis to ask whether the MLAs are in one state or another,” an MLA said. The Pilot camp claimed that the MLAs were in fact not at the hotel in Manesar which has been the focus of much attention. It was pointed out that the MLAs were fending for themselves and would be ready to participate in a floor test whenever it was held. Read more

Hearing on petition filed by Sachin Pilot to resume in Rajasthan HC at 10 am

The hearing on a writ petition filed by Sachin Pilot and 18 other dissident Congress MLAs from Rajasthan, challenging the disqualification notices issued to them by the state Assembly speaker, will resume in the high court here at 10 am on Monday. The petition was taken up a by a bench of Chief Justice Indrajit Mahanty and Justice Prakash Gupta on Friday and arguments were heard. The proceedings will resume at 10 am on Monday. The notices to the MLAs were served after the party complained to the speaker that the lawmakers had defied a whip to attend two Congress Legislature Party meetings last week on Monday and Tuesday. The Pilot camp, however, argues that a party whip applies only when the Assembly is in session.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice Indrajit Mahanty and Justice Prakash Gupta deferred hearing in the matter until Monday morning when senior counsel Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing the speaker, would resume his arguments to counter the Pilot camp’s plea that the notices were against the Constitution and issued in haste.

Cong MLAs from Gehlot camp spend weekend enjoying 'Lagaan', 'Sholay', antakshari at Jaipur hotel: ANI

A day after enjoying antakshari and actor Aamir Khan's blockbuster movie 'Lagaan', Congress MLAs of Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot's camp lodged at Hotel Fairmont here were spotted watching cult classic hit 'Sholay'.The Congress MLAs in favour of the state government led by Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot have been lodged at Hotel Fairmont amid the political turmoil in Rajasthan. Released on August 15, 1975, 'Sholay' was about two petty criminals, Veeru and Jai (Dharmendra and Amitabh Bachchan), who are hired by a retired police officer to capture the ruthless dacoit Gabbar Singh. The film also stars Hema Malini and Jaya Bachchan and it has superhit music by RD Burman. These MLAs were also seen attending cooking classes, playing 'antakshari' and watching Mughal-e-Azam.

Congress mulls short assembly session to call Rajasthan rebels’ ‘bluff’

Congress is mulling calling a short session of the Rajasthan assembly to force the hand of rebels even if the court hearing on the disqualification notices favours the Sachin Pilot-led group. As per the thinking in Congress, the Pilot group’s plan to dig in its heels over returning to Jaipur has to be countered immediately even though the party believes it has a robust legal case.

Union minister Shekhawat should resign or be sacked: Congress

Upping the ante over two audio clips that it claims is proof of Union minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat’s alleged role in horse-trading of Rajasthan MLAs, Congress on Sunday demanded that he either resign or be removed by PM Narendra Modi.

We’re in Haryana as Rajasthan cops hounding us: Pilot camp

Rajasthan CM framing me to avenge son’s defeat: Gajendra Singh Shekhawat

Union Jal Shakti minister and Jodhpur MP Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said on Sunday that the "fabricated audio clip released last week by the Rajasthan Congress was engineered by chief minister Ashok Gehlot to avenge the defeat of his son in 2019".

The manager of the resort in Manesar gave in writing to the Rajasthan Police that the MLAs backing Sachin Pilot are not there

Congress has absolute majority in Rajasthan assembly: Party

Where did you want to reach in such a hurry? Whether you wanted to become chief minister at 43 and prime minister at 45 by joining the BJP: Congress veteran Margaret Alva to Pilot

Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot on Sunday met the Congress MLAs at Hotel Fairmont in Jaipur where they are lodged

Who is Sanjay Jain, the man at centre of Rajasthan crisis?

Sanjay Jain had asked me to meet Vasundhara Raje, says Congress MLA

"Sanjay Jain (arrested by SOG, Rajasthan Police) had come to me eight months back. He had asked me to meet Vasundhara ji and others. There are other agents like him but they didn't succeed in their attempts. Sanjay Jain had been active for a long time. At that time Jain was asking me to join the BJP," the Congress MLA told media.

We'll be kingmakers, says BTP as Rajasthan crisis unfolds

Brief Rajasthan Assembly session may be held this week: Cong sources

A day after Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot met Governor Kalraj Mishra, Congress sources on Sunday said a brief session of the state assembly may be called this week. “The government has all options open, including a brief assembly session,” they said amid a political crisis caused by party leader Sachin Pilot's rebellion against Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot. A Raj Bhawan spokesperson however said the CM briefed the governor about the efforts being made to protect the state from the coronavirus pandemic. On the other hand, party sources said the chances of calling a brief assembly session are there but nothing has been finalised yet.

Sachin Pilot shouldn't make the mistake that Jyotiraditya Scindia made: Congress leader Digvijaya Singh