Don’t expect favourable rulings these days: Congress

NEW DELHI: Congress on Thursday said it does not expect favourable judgments from courts “these days” and prepares its political strategy accordingly.
The terse comment came after the Supreme Court refused to accept the Speaker’s plea to stay the high court order “requesting” the presiding officer to not act on disqualification notices issued to party rebels led by Sachin Pilot in Rajasthan.
Congress spokesman Ajay Maken said, “When you go to the court these days, we don’t expect a favourable decision from the court. So, we prepare ourselves for a decision which is not in our favour. It is not only a legal battle, it is mainly a political battle and legal battle is just part of the entire political battle. Knowing full well, understanding full well that the court may not give a decision in our favour, we have prepared our political plan.”
Maken said Congress was confident of its majority in the Rajasthan assembly and the difference between the government and its opponents would be 15-20 votes. “The most important thing is the number in the Rajasthan House. Once that number is with us, we don’t need to worry about anything else,” he said when asked if the SC order was a setback for the party.
Meanwhile, Congress leader Kuldeep Bishnoi retweeted a comment on how a string of younger leaders had either left or had fallen silent and were sidelined. The comment attracted attention in the light of developments with Congress leaders expressing concern over Sachin Pilot’s revolt.
Maken said the Speaker’s notice had never been stayed in history while adding that the high court was still to pronounce its order.
Disappointed Congress leaders said the court battle had delayed the issue by a couple of weeks which was hurting because the strategy for disqualification of rebels had come unstuck in a close numbers’ game, while governance too was hit in the state.