Rajasthan Political Crisis: Ashok Gehlot claims the support of 102 MLAs
Rajasthan Chief Whip Mahesh Joshi has moved the Supreme Court against the Rajasthan High Court's order, which directs Assembly Speaker CP Joshi to defer disqualification of sacked Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot and 18 rebel MLAs. Mahesh Joshi's plea contends the High Court's order is "unconstitutional, illegal" and against its "1992 verdict in the case of Kihoto Hollohon", which holds that the Speaker has the authority to decide the disqualification proceedings and judicial intervention in the process is "not permissible".
The Chief Whip moved the top court two days after the Speaker also filed an appeal against the High Court's July 24 order.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, who is left with a narrow majority after a revolt by his sacked deputy Sachin Pilot, hit out at the BJP today over its petition in court challenging the merger of six Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) MLAs into the Congress last year. The Chief Minister accused the BJP of "double standards", reminding the party that four Rajya Sabha members of Chandrababu Naidu's Telugu Desam Party (TDP) merged into it last year.
Nearly 100 Rajasthan Congress MLAs, who have been staying at a hotel near Jaipur, have been moved to Jaisalmer. The MLAs - Ashok Gehlot claims the support of 102- will be sequestered at a different location till August 14, when the Rajasthan assembly session begins.
Here are the Highlights on Rajasthan Political Crisis:
Ministry of Home Affairs engaged in horse-trading: Ashok Gehlot
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has alleged that the Union Ministry of Home Affairs is engaged in horse-trading.
"The entire Ministry of Home Affairs is engaged in this work. Many ministers are engaged like Dharmendra Pradhan, Piyush Goyal. There are many secrets too," he said.
Congress MLAs supporting Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot shifted to Suryagarh hotel in Jaisalmer on Friday. They were earlier lodged at Fairmont Hotel in Jaipur. Mr Gehlot said that MLAs were shifted to keep them away from external pressure.
The Rajasthan Assembly session is scheduled to begin on August 14.
PM Modi should stop the "drama" in Rajasthan: Ashok Gehlot
Prime Minister Narendra Modi should stop the drama going on in the state, says Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot.
Mr Gehlot has alleged that the "rate for horse-trading has increased".
"As a Prime Minister of the country, PM Modi should stop the 'tamasha' (drama) going on in Rajasthan. The rate for horse-trading has increased here. As soon as the assembly session was announced, they have increased the rates further. What tamasha is this?" Mr Gehlot asks.
He also says that Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat should resign on moral grounds.
Congress MLAs offer Eid prayers at Jaisalmer hotel
Rajasthan Congress MLAs Amin Khan, Amin Kagzi, Hakam Ali, Saleh Mohammed, Wajib and Rafiq offered prayers on the occasion of Eid Al-Adha at Suryagarh Hotel in Jaisalmer.
The Congress MLAs who are supporting Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot are lodged at the hotel. The MLAs reached Jaisalmer on Friday.
Rajasthan Cops To Approach High Court For "Middleman's" Voice Sample
The Special Operations Group of the
Rajasthan Police will approach the High Court to take the voice sample of Sanjay Jain, arrested after being allegedly caught on audio tapes discussing the "plot to topple the state government", as claimed by the Congress.
Mr Jain was produced before a local court on Friday where he refused to give his voice sample, saying he does not have faith in the SOG probe and the Forensic Science Laboratory report can be manipulated.
Sanjay Jain was allegedly acting as a middleman and the Congress alleges he is associated with the BJP, a charge denied by the BJP.
Rajasthan Chief Whip moves Supreme Court against stay on MLA disqualification
Rajasthan Chief Whip Mahesh Joshi on Friday moved the Supreme Court against the Rajasthan High Court's order, which directs Assembly Speaker CP Joshi to defer disqualification of sacked Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot and 18 rebel MLAs.
The Chief Whip moved the top court two days after the Speaker also filed an appeal against the High Court's July 24 order.
Mahesh Joshi's plea contends the High Court's order is "unconstitutional, illegal" and against its "1992 verdict in the case of Kihoto Hollohon", which holds that the Speaker has the authority to decide the disqualification proceedings and judicial intervention in the process is "not permissible". (Read full story
here)
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