Team Pilot Tells Court It Was Given Just 3 Days To Reply In Time Of Covid

Mukul Rohatgi, representing the rebel MLAs, said the Speaker had shown "tearing hurry" and given no reasons while serving notices to disqualify Sachin Pilot and others after they skipped two meetings.

"In the middle of the pandemic, only three days' time was given to the MLAs to respond to the notice. The reading of these facts leaves no manner of doubt that the decision (to suspend MLAs) is a foregone conclusion," Mr Rohatgi argued.

Yesterday, top lawyers on both sides had argued over whether dissent is "anti-party" and whether the Speaker's action on dissenters violates freedom of speech.

Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing Speaker CP Joshi, said the rebels cannot approach the court before the Speaker takes action. "The rebels don't have grounds to question the Speaker until the Speaker gives a decision. The Speaker and the assembly are not in the judicial purview of the court for now," said Mr Singhvi.

Team Pilot, which has been staying in two resorts near Delhi for over a week, has contested a constitutional rule that disqualifies MLAs if they "voluntarily" give up the membership of the party that they represent.

Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot considers himself safely placed with the support of 103 MLAs - two more than the majority mark in the 200-member Rajasthan assembly.

The Rajasthan High Court's decision on the rebels' petition will have a significant bearing on the ongoing crisis.

If Team Pilot is disqualified, it will bring down the majority mark in the assembly and Mr Gehlot can win a possible test of strength even more easily. Team Pilot has 19 members, and along with the BJP's 72, can give the government a close fight if it wins the case. They can vote as Congress members against their government, which could mean trouble for Mr Gehlot.

Sachin Pilot broke ranks with his party after he was asked to answer questions in an investigation ordered by the Chief Minister into alleged bribing of Congress MLAs to switch loyalties and help bringing down the Gehlot government.

While the Congress has repeatedly said the "doors are open" for Mr Pilot, who has in turn insisted that he is not going to the BJP, Mr Gehlot's attacks have become increasingly caustic. Yesterday, Mr Gehlot said no one wanted to believe that "such an innocent face" could conspire against the party. He also used words like "nikamma" and "nakaara" - both variants of "worthless" - to described Mr Pilot.