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:
Rajasthan: Congress party puts notice at MLA Indraj Singh Gurjar's residence in Kotputli, Jaipur for not attending the recent Congress Legislative Party meetings. He has to respond to the notice within 2 days. pic.twitter.com/pgX98fCC9s
- ANI (@ANI) July 16, 2020
False rumours spread to malign
- Kapil Sibal (@KapilSibal) July 16, 2020
Pilot : " I am not joining BJP "
I guess then legislators at a hotel in Manesar is merely a vacation in Haryana's comfort zone under BJP's watchful eye
What about " ghar wapsi "?
