Rajasthan political crisis: Congress moves to disqualify Sachin Pilot, other rebel MLAs

Sachin Pilot was sacked as Rajasthan deputy chief minister and removed as state Congress chief along with two more ministers who have joined him in his revolt

Jaipur: Disqualification notices will be issued by Rajasthan Assembly speaker CP Joshi to Sachin Pilot and other MLAs who did not attend the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting held on Monday and Tuesday, a senior party leader said.

The Congress had on Tuesday (July 14) cracked down on Pilot, stripping the dissident leader of the posts of Rajasthan's deputy chief minister and the party's state unit president and sacking two loyalists from the state Cabinet.

“The notices of disqualification will be issued to all such MLAs, including Sachin Pilot, who were absent from the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting through the Speaker of legislative assembly,” AICC general secretary Avinash Pande said on Wednesday.

He said the party has filed a petition before the Speaker for dismissal of such MLAs. If replies by the MLAs are not found to be justified, it is up to the Speaker to decide for action, he added.

A total of 19 party MLAs, including Pilot, were absent from the CLP meetings.

Chief minister Ashok Gehlot is likely to rework his Cabinet today (July 15) to fill vacancies and possibly accommodate more to keep his flock together.

The Congress has 100 MLAs, the half-way mark in the 200-member Assembly. Pilot has at least 20 MLAs on his side, 17 Congress and three independent legislators.

The BJP, which had kept a cautious eye on the Congress crisis till now, has been proactive since yesterday. But the party cancelled a meeting today (July 15) which had to be attended by former chief minister Vasundhara Raje and other leaders. The BJP, which has 73 MLAs, needs the support of another 35 to take power in Rajasthan.