Rahul Gandhi is "keen on keeping the doors open for Sachin Pilot", say sources. (File photo)
Sachin Pilot and other Congress rebels today challenged in the Rajasthan High Court a move to disqualify them as MLAs in a dramatic escalation of the party's crisis in Rajasthan. Top lawyers - Mukul Rohatgi, a former Attorney General, and Harish Salve, who has represented India in big international cases - are representing them in court. Notices served to them by Rajasthan Speaker CP Joshi yesterday asked them to explain by Friday "anti-party activities", failing which they would be disqualified. While team Pilot will be helped by the top government lawyer in the BJP regime, the Congress has fielded one of its sharpest legal experts, Abhishek Manu Singhvi.
Having secured its government in Rajasthan, the Congress on Wednesday asked rebel Sachin Pilot to reject the hospitality of the Haryana government and come back to Jaipur to prove his claim that he did not want to go with the Bharatiya Janata Party. "Stop accepting the hospitality of the BJP in Haryana immediately, prove your intentions," said the party, referring to rebel MLAs camping at two hotels in Gurugram near Delhi. The Congress has accused the BJP of trying to reel in these MLAs with offers of money and posts.
Meanwhile, sources told NDTV that Rahul Gandhi is "keen on keeping the doors open for Sachin Pilot", hours after the rebel leader declared that he was not joining the BJP and rumors were spread to "malign him with the Gandhis". The Congress has also reined in Ashok Gehlot, asking him to tone down his statements against his former deputy, the sources said. The admonition, though, came much after Mr Gehlot claimed he had proof of Mr Pilot's horse trading with the BJP. Rahul Gandhi has had no direct contact with Mr Pilot yet, though he has spoken to him through emissaries once over the weekend, Congress sources said. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra had touched base with him thrice.
Here are the highlights on political developments in Rajasthan:
Who Do Rajasthan MLAs In Viral Video Support Now? It's Open, They SaySachin Pilot managed a big win today with a pair of the country's top lawyers - Mukul Rohatgi, named Attorney General by the Modi government and Harish Salve, who represents India in some of its biggest cases internationally - representing him in court, an arrangement that, many say, is likely facilitated by the BJP.
Yesterday, Mr Pilot, age 42, appeared to be flailing somewhat in his attempt to emancipate himself from the Congress after declaring he can no longer work with Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot. The party sacked him as Deputy Chief Minister and as president of its Rajasthan branch; after that, he was warned that the Congress will move to have him disqualified as an MLA for defying its directive to attend meetings in Jaipur this week that were chaired by Mr Gehlot.
Taking the Congress to court today in Rajasthan is a pre-emptive strike by Mr Pilot and his (so far) band of 18 MLAs, headquartered since the weekend at a resort in Gurugram near Delhi.
Vasundhara Raje Asked Congress MLAs To "Support Ashok Gehlot": BJP AllyA BJP ally in Rajasthan has alleged that former Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, the BJP's most prominent leader in the state, is trying to help Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, whose Congress government is facing a huge threat from rebel Sachin Pilot.
A tweet by Hanuman Beniwal, an MP of the Rashtriya Loktantrik Party, has added a twist to the Congress versus Congress fight in Rajasthan by suggesting that Vasundhara Raje is trying to sabotage the rebel camp.
"Former Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje has called up Congress MLAs close to her and asked them to support Ashok Gehlot. She has called each and every Jat MLA in Sikar and Nagaur and asked them to keep distance from Sachin Pilot, I have proof of this," tweeted Hanuman Beniwal, who represents Nagaur in parliament.
Amended petition filed by Sachin Pilot, 18 other Congress MLAs likely to be heard by Rajasthan High Court at 1 pm Friday, news agency PTI reported.
Too Far, Says Congress, As Sachin Pilot Goes To CourtSachin Pilot has "gone to a point of no return", the Congress said today as he and his rebel squad took the party to court today. Team pilot has challenged disqualification notices served to them yesterday for "anti-party activities" after they skipped two meetings of Congress MLAs called by Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot.
Mukul Rohatgi and Harish Salve, who were top government lawyers in BJP regimes, will represent Team Pilot in court, which, the Congress said, was a big sign that the BJP is actively supporting the rebels in order to topple the Congress three months after snatching Madhya Pradesh with help from Jyotiraditya Scindia.
Sources said Priyanka Gandhi Vadra spoke to Sachin Pilot even yesterday, but drew no positive response.
This would be the Congress leader's fourth direct outreach to the rebel, who has always been a Gandhi family favourite. Her brother Rahul Gandhi has also been in touch with him, but through emissaries.
The Congress believes some MLAs intend to return to the fold but they may now wait for the outcome of the High Court case.
Yesterday, Mr Pilot's reassertion that he was not joining the BJP led to speculation that he was angling for a patch-up.
Two-judge bench of Rajasthan High Court to hear this evening amended petition filed by dissident Congress MLAs, news agency PTI reported
"Not In Sachin Pilot Camp," Says Rajasthan Party MLA To NDTVTwo MLAs of a regional party in Rajasthan, the Bhartiya Tribal Party (BTP), denied today that they were in Sachin Pilot's camp and said they would meet Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot tomorrow before taking a decision.
"We are not in Sachin Pilot's camp," said Rajkumar, a BTP MLA, rubbishing reports that he and his colleague had joined the rebels at a hotel in Manesar near Delhi.
"We will meet the Chief Minister tomorrow on certain issues. We will take a decision on whom to support after that," he added en route to Jaipur from Dungarpur.
The BTP withdrew support from the Congress government earlier this week and said it would stay neutral in the Congress infighting.
Sachin Pilot To File Fresh Petition Against Disqualification Move, High Court Grants TimeThe Rajasthan High Court on Thursday granted time to Sachin Pilot and 18 other dissident Congress MLAs to file an amended petition challenging the disqualification notices issued to them by the Rajasthan Speaker.
The petition against the move to disqualify the rebel MLAs from the state assembly was taken up for hearing at 3 pm.
But senior Advocate Harish Salve, appearing for the petitioners, sought time to amend it.
Salve argued that the MLAs wanted to challenge the constitutional validity of the notices and needed some time to file it afresh.
The matter would now be heard by the division bench of the high court, news agency PTI reported.
Rajasthan High Court grants time to Sachin Pilot camp to file fresh petition, matter to be heard now by Division Bench, news agency PTI reported.
Sachin Pilot camp seeks time to amend its petition challenging move to disqualify dissident MLAs from Rajasthan Assembly, news agency PTI reported.
The court move marks a widening of the rift between the Congress and Sachin Pilot, who has been in Delhi along with some 20 MLAs since he launched his revolt on Sunday. Congress sent the notices via SMS, WhatsApp, email and post and even pasted documents in Hindi and English on walls outside their homes across Rajasthan to make sure they get the message.
Congress vs Congress, Team Pilot Goes To Court, Hires Ex-Attorney General
Sachin Pilot and other Congress rebels have challenged in the Rajasthan High Court a move to disqualify them as MLAs. Mukul Rohatgi, who was appointed Attorney General after the BJP came to power in 2014, will represent them in court.
Read Here Sachin Pilot Moves To Rajasthan High Court
Sachin Pilot moves to Rajasthan High Court against speaker's notice, along with MLAs against disqualification notices. The hearing is scheduled at 3 pm.
Notices On Walls Of Rebels As Rajasthan Congress Drives Home Message
The Rajasthan Congress has served notices to 19 party leaders for not attending key party meetings amid the crisis sparked by the revolt of Sachin Pilot. Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot's government has been pushed to the brink of collapse following Sachin Pilot's rebellion, who has, however, said he won't join the BJP.
But He Was "Business Class", Say Congress Sources On Sachin Pilot
Sachin Pilot remains unmoved by near-unprecedented attempts by the Gandhis to settle his differences with the party. Sources in the Congress told NDTV that over the weekend, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra phoned Sachin Pilot three times - but without a detente. "He was business class," said a senior Congress leader plaintively, referring to Sachin Pilot's personal equation with the Gandhis, the First Family of the party.
Congress Doubts Sachin Pilot's Intentions, Say Party Sources, Party's Crisis Deepens
Sachin Pilot and other rebel Congress MLAs are prepping to take their fight against Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot to the court. The rebels are consulting lawyers on petitioning the Rajasthan High Court against notices served to them warning of disqualification for anti-party activities. The court is closed till July 20 over coronavirus.
Read Here Notices On Walls Of Rebels As Rajasthan Congress Drives Home Message
The Rajasthan Congress has served notices to 19 party leaders for not attending key party meetings amid the crisis sparked by the revolt of Sachin Pilot. Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot's government has been pushed to the brink of collapse following Mr Pilot's rebellion, who has, however, said he won't join the BJP.
Congress party puts notice at MLA Indraj Singh Gurjar's residence in Kotputli, Jaipur for not attending the recent Congress Legislative Party meetings.
Congress' Kapil Sibal reacts on rumours of Sachin pilot joining BJP
Haryana Resort Housing Team Sachin Pilot Turns "Quarantine Centre"
A resort in Haryana's Manesar near Delhi is claiming to be a "quarantine centre" for coronavirus after Rajasthan's rebel Congress leader Sachin Pilot shifted there with MLAs supporting him. Its overnight transformation drew attention as the Congress today challenged Sachin Pilot to "come out of the security cover" of the BJP government in Haryana and return to Jaipur.
Rahul Gandhi Keen To Keep Door Open For Sachin Pilot: Congress Sources
Rahul Gandhi is "keen on keeping the doors open for Sachin Pilot", sources in the Congress told NDTV on Wednesday, hours after the rebel leader declared that he was not joining the BJP and rumors were spread to "malign him with the Gandhis".
Read Here