This Article is From Jul 31, 2020

Rajasthan Political Crisis Highlights: Court Notices To Rajasthan Speaker, Ex-BSP MLAs Who Joined Congress

Ashok Gehlot's government is facing a huge crisis following the rebellion of his former deputy Sachin Pilot and 18 MLAs loyal to him.

Rajasthan Political Crisis Highlights: Court Notices To Rajasthan Speaker, Ex-BSP MLAs Who Joined Congress

The Governor has decided to convene assembly session from August 14.

New Delhi/Jaipur:

The Rajasthan High Court on Thursday issued notices to the Speaker and six MLAs who contested elections on a Bahujan Samaj Party and then merged with the Congress.

The court issued the notices while hearing a petition filed by the BSP against the merger of the MLAs into Rajasthan's ruling party.

They have to submit the replies by August 11 and submit their side of the case.

Following a week of hectic parleys, protests and exchange of letters between Raj Bhavan and the state government in Rajasthan, Governor Kalraj Mishra on Wednesday agreed to call an assembly session on August 14. Earlier, the Governor had questioned the government's third proposal, which insisted on the July 31 date it mentioned earlier.

Mr Mishra said that there appeared to be no convincing reason to call a session without a 21-day notice in view of the coronavirus outbreak, unless the government wanted to hold a trust vote. In that case, a short session with all the safety measures, including social distancing could be held, he said.

Meanwhile, Speaker CP Joshi has filed a fresh petition in the Supreme Court against the high court order over disqualification notices issued to Sachin Pilot and his camp of rebel MLAs. Sources told NDTV that Speaker will not be pressing for immediate hearing and the case is likely to come up for hearing next week. Senior advocate and Congress leader Kapil Sibal will represent the Speaker in court.

Here are the Highlights on Rajasthan Political Crisis:

Jul 30, 2020 18:35 (IST)
Want the unhappy MLAs to attend assembly session: Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot
"I still want that those unhappy MLAs should attend the assembly session as they've been elected on Congress symbol. It's my responsibility to ensure that they are seen standing with the government in front of the public," said Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot.
Jul 30, 2020 16:34 (IST)
Court sends notices to Rajasthan Speaker, 6 BSP MLAs who joined Congress
The Rajasthan High Court on Thursday issued notices to the Speaker and six MLAs who contested elections on a Bahujan Samaj Party and then merged with the Congress.

The court issued the notices while hearing a petition filed by the BSP against the merger of the MLAs into Rajasthan''s ruling party.

They have to submit the replies by August 11 and submit their side of the case.

Sandeep Yadav, Wajib Ali, Deepchand Kheria, Lakhan Meena, Jogendra Awana and Rajendra Gudha won the assembly elections in 2018. In September 2019, the entire group of BSP MLAs joined the Congress.

BJP MLA Madan Dilawar complained to the Speaker, saying it violated the anti-defection law.
Jul 30, 2020 15:56 (IST)
Rajasthan High Court issues notice to Speaker and Secretary of the Legislative Assembly, and 6 BSP MLAs in connection with the merger of the BSP MLAs with Congress party, in the state. The Court asks them to file reply by August 11.
Jul 30, 2020 14:19 (IST)
Team Pilot claim to have 30 MLAs on their side

The rebels claim they have around 30 MLAs on their side, but so far, only 19 are confirmed.

If they attend house and vote against the Congress government, Ashok Gehlot could be in huge trouble. The rebels will be disqualified for defying their party whip, but the government will fall first, according to the rules.
Jul 30, 2020 13:43 (IST)
"Of course we'll attend assembly session": Team Pilot, camped in Haryana

A day after Rajasthan Governor Kalraj Mishra finally approved an assembly session from August 14 after multiple requests from Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, rebel MLAs camped in Haryana say they will attend the sitting.
Sachin Pilot and 18 rebel MLAs are reportedly debating asking for protection to return to Jaipur for the first time since they broke ranks with the Congress party.

One of the rebel MLAs, asked whether they would attend the session, told NDTV: "Of course, we will attend."

No date has been fixed for their return to Jaipur.

If the rebels do not attend the session, they will stand automatically disqualified.

They are currently fighting Speaker CP Joshi's moves to disqualify them. (Read full story here)
Jul 30, 2020 11:21 (IST)
Congress Legislature Party (CLP) is set to meet at Hotel Fairmont. The meeting will be chaired by Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot.
Jul 30, 2020 09:30 (IST)

Yesterday, Govind Singh Dotasra took over as the new chief of the Rajasthan Congress amid a deep crisis for the government brought about by Sachin Pilot's revolt.
Jul 30, 2020 09:01 (IST)
Rajasthan Crisis: Sachin Pilot Birthday Wish For Rajasthan Speaker CP Joshi Whom He Has Taken To Court
Sachin Pilot, whose rebellion has pushed the Rajasthan Congress government to the edge, today posted birthday greetings for the man he is fighting in court -- Speaker CP Joshi."
Jul 30, 2020 08:36 (IST)
"Gross judicial indiscipline': Speaker moves top court against High Court order

Just two days after withdrawing the petition challenging the Rajasthan High Court's interim order of maintaining a status quo -- which he claimed is helping Mr Pilot -- Speaker CP Joshi was back in the top court again.

This time, the Speaker has asked the top court to rein-in the "indiscipline" of the High Court, which he said, was violating the Supreme Court's Kihoto Hollohan judgment.

The High Court acted in "gross judicial indiscipline and judicial impropriety" in seeking to reopen settled issues decided by a Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court, the petition said. The High Court, it added, cannot sit in judgment over a Supreme Court verdict.
Jul 30, 2020 08:31 (IST)
For all the updates on yesterday's developments, click here
.