Rajasthan Political Crisis: Sachin Pilot claims to have support of 18 MLAs.
The Rajasthan High Court will deliver its verdict on the petition filed by 19 dissident Congress MLAs, including Sachin Pilot, against the Speaker's notice for initiating disqualification proceedings against them, at 10:30 AM today.
The rebels have argued in court that such notices cannot be served by a Speaker when the assembly is not in session. They have challenged a rule that allows the Speaker to disqualify members if they have "voluntarily given up the party's membership". They say they do not intend to quit the Congress; they only want a change in the leadership.
The Speaker had attempted to get the High Court verdict blocked in the Supreme Court, but the top court refused to intervene, saying it would take up the case again on Monday. But the High Court ruling will be subject to the final order of the Supreme Court.
Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has said that the assembly session would be called "soon" and expressed confidence that he has a majority. "We will call the assembly session soon. We have a majority. All Congress MLAs are united," the Chief Minister told reporters shortly before he met Governor Kalraj Mishra. The 20-minute meeting was their third since the Congress rebel crisis erupted nearly two weeks ago.
Here are the Live Updates on Rajasthan Political Crisis:
Sachin Pilot camp wants to make Centre a party in the case
Team Pilot has asked the High Court to make the centre a party in the case. The rebels want the centre to weigh in on whether the anti-defection law applies to their case.
Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot yesterday said he was confident of his majority and an assembly session would be called "very soon".
The Rajasthan High Court will decide on the petition of 19 rebel MLAs including Sachin Pilot challenging disqualification notices served to them by Speaker CP Joshi last week after they skipped two meetings called by the Chief Minister.
The court may make the centre a party to the case and seek its views to decide on the validity of the anti-defection law in the case of the rebels.
Rajasthan Crisis: Can Team Sachin Pilot Be Disqualified? High Court Verdict At 10:30 AM Today: 10 Points
Sachin Pilot and other rebel Congress leaders will find out today whether they can be disqualified by the Speaker as the Rajasthan High Court pronounces its verdict on their petition a day after the Supreme Court said the "voice of dissent" cannot be suppressed in a democracy. The Supreme Court on Thursday refused to stop the High Court from delivering its verdict, which is likely to impact the revolt-hit Congress government in Rajasthan. Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot yesterday said he was confident of his majority and an assembly session would be called soon."
Ashok Gehlot has support of 101 MLAs
The Congress has a narrow lead over the opposition and has only two more than the majority-mark of 101 in the 200-member Rajasthan assembly. Team Pilot has 19 MLAs and the BJP has 72. Including smaller parties and independent members, the opposition has 97 at the moment.
Rajasthan High Court to pass order at 10:30 AM
The Rajasthan High Court will deliver its verdict on the petition filed by 19 dissident Congress MLAs, including Sachin Pilot, against the Speaker's notice for initiating disqualification proceedings against them, at 10:30 AM today.
The rebels have argued in court that such notices cannot be served by a Speaker when the assembly is not in session. They have challenged a rule that allows the Speaker to disqualify members if they have "voluntarily given up the party's membership". They say they do not intend to quit the Congress; they only want a change in the leadership. (Read full story
here)
For all the updates on yesterday's developments, click
here
