Congress panel to look into issues raised by Sachin Pilot: Top developments

NEW DELHI: Ahead of the crucial Rajasthan assembly session from August 14, rebel Congress leader Sachin Pilot on Monday met party leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra in New Delhi, amidst indications of a possible breakthrough.
Pilot and 18 other MLAs have rebelled against the Ashok Gehlot-led Congress government in Rajasthan, leading to Pilot's sacking as deputy chief minister and state party chief.
Here are the top developments:
Party panel to look into issued raised by Pilot: Congress
The Congress on Monday said that Sachin Pilot met Rahul Gandhi and expressed his grievances in detail.
"They had a frank, open and conclusive discussion. Sachin Pilot has committed to working in interest of Congress party and Congress government in Rajasthan," KC Venugopal, general secretary, AICC said.
Following the meeting, Congress president Sonia Gandhi has decided that the AICC will constitute a three-member committee to address the issues raised by Pilot and the aggrieved MLA and arrive at an appropriate resolution thereof.
Sonia speaks to Gehlot, suspended MLA meets him
Congress president Sonia Gandhi spoke to Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot in an indication that efforts have accelerated to find an amicable solution to the political crisis faced by the party government in the state ahead of the start of the session of state assembly later this week.
Sources said that the conversation between Sonia Gandhi and Gehlot took place after meeting between former deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot and party leader Rahul Gandhi.
In another development, suspended party MLA Bhawar Lal Sharma and a loyalist of Pilot, met Gehlot.
The sources said that Gehlot has called state Congress chief Govind Singh Dostara and other senior leaders for a meeting and after the call by Sonia Gandhi.
Today or a months later, Cong govt will disintegrate: Kataria
Amid signs of a rapprochement between Congress and Pilot, the BJP is weighing its options and working to put up a united face against the Ashok Gehlot government ahead of the assembly session from August 14.
BJP legislative party leader Gulab Chand Kataria claimed even a unity in the Congress ranks can only be temporary and the government is "bound to disintegrate sooner than later".
A meeting of BJP MLAs has been called on Tuesday, Kataria said.
BJP sources said former chief minister Vasundhara Raje, who has been meeting party's national leadership in Delhi over the last few days, may attend the meeting in Jaipur.
Sachin Pilot meets Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra
In a possible thaw to the Rajasthan political crisis, disgruntled MLA from Tonk and former deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot met Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Monday.
Sources said that the meeting which took place at the residence of Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi around noon was successful and could lead to a possible turnaround.
Pilot and his supporters were assured by the central Congress leadership that all their differences with the Rajasthan government led by Ashok Gehlot would be addressed and resolved by the party.
No possibility of leadership change in Rajasthan: State Cong chief
Rajasthan Congress president Govind Singh Dotasra ruled out any possibility of a leadership change in the state, saying it is merely a rumour.
"There is no such thing or discussion on change in leadership. It is a fake and hollow rumour. Ashok Gehlot is the chief minister and he will remain so for five years,” Dotasra told reporters.
Dotasra along with other Congress leaders were here to meet the Rajasthan Speaker C P Joshi ahead of the assembly session convened from August 14.
SC to hear tomorrow pleas on merger of six BSP MLAs with Congress
The Supreme Court on Monday said it would tomorrow hear the petitions filed on the issue relating to merger of six BSP MLAs with the Congress in Rajasthan last year.
The apex court was hearing a plea filed by a BJP MLA who has challenged the Rajasthan high court order which had refused to stay the functioning as Congress legislators of six BSP MLAs who after election to the assembly merged with the ruling party in the state.
A bench headed by Justice Arun Mishra said that appeal filed by BJP MLA Madan Dilawar would be heard along with a separate plea filed by the six MLAs.
Rebel MLAs concerns noted but party discipline needs to be maintained: Rajasthan Congress
Rajasthan Congress MLAs have demanded action against Sachin Pilot and other rebel MLAs at the Congress' Legislature Party meeting held yesterday. State Congress in-charge Avinash Pandey at the CLP meet sought to address the apprehensions and concerns of the Congress MLAs, sources said.
Pandey reiterated that the Congress party workers must remain disciplined and should continue to follow the directives of the party high-command, several MLAs from the Congress told ANI on condition of anonymity.
Gehlot had on Sunday chaired the CLP meeting at Hotel Suryagarh in Jaisalmer. The Rajasthan assembly session is scheduled to begin from August 14.