The Rajasthan High Court has said Sachin Pilot and 18 other Congress rebels in the state cannot be disqualified by the Speaker at least till Tuesday. Team Pilot's challenge to disqualification notices from the Speaker will be heard again on Monday.
This morning, the Congress suspended two of the rebels alleging that they had been caught on tape conspiring with the BJP against their own government. The Congress also named Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, who has called the audio "fake". Two police cases were filed on the allegations. Hours before the hearing, the Congress held a press conference where it released transcripts of alleged audio conversations of deal-making between rebel MLAs and the BJP to try and dislodge the Ashok Gehlot government in Rajasthan.
"The Modi govt and BJP are conspiring' to grab power instead of fighting the coronavirus pandemic," Congress leader Randeep Surjewala said, reading out transcripts of audio conversations allegedly featuring rebel MLAs. "Sachin Pilot should clarify his stand," he added.
Ashok Gehlot has 109 MLAs on his side. The Chief Minister needs 101 MLAs to vote for him in the assembly to retain power.
Mr Pilot, on the other hand, claims at least 20 MLAs are with him. Some 16 were seen at a hotel in Manesar near Delhi, which has been the base station for Congress rebels.
The BJP has 73 MLAs and needs around 30 more to topple the government.
Here are the Live Updates on political developments in Rajasthan:
Haryana: The team of Special Operations Group (SOG) of Rajasthan Police that was waiting outside the resort in Manesar where Congress MLAs are staying, has been allowed to enter the resort. pic.twitter.com/Nh7kCmTgIV
- ANI (@ANI) July 17, 2020
Hearing before Assembly Speaker (on notice issued to Sachin Pilot & other MLAs) that was scheduled to be held today has been deferred till 5:30 pm Tuesday. No action can be taken against MLAs till then: Lawyer Prateek Kasliwal, who is representing Speaker CP Joshi at Rajasthan HC pic.twitter.com/s41iNiPDAt
- ANI (@ANI) July 17, 2020
Congress's Jitendra Singh On Sachin Pilot: Sometimes Young Leaders Forget Their Oath
Rajasthan Congress Crisis: P Chidambaram's Advice To Sachin Pilot In A Phone CallI am ready to face any investigation. The audio doesn't have my voice: Union Minister, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat (file pic) https://t.co/lG4exVa14t pic.twitter.com/FFQUoHgzJL
- ANI (@ANI) July 17, 2020
Amidst a pandemic when people are suffering, thousands are dying & health infrastructure is crumbling, the BJP Govt at the centre is prioritising toppling democratically elected governments.
- K C Venugopal (@kcvenugopalmp) July 17, 2020
The tapes released by media today clearly reveal the disastrous intentions of BJP.
- It is clear that the BJP is involved in trying to destabilise the Rajasthan government.
- Instead of fighting against China and coronavirus, BJP is indulging in trying to topple the government
- The SOG should register an FIR against Union Cabinet Minister Shri Gajendra Shekhawat who was involved in the conspiracy to topple the Rajasthan Congress Government and make arrests immediately if necessary
- It should be investigated how the money is being exchanged, who provided this black money and where it came from, how was the transfer done through hawala and who gave the money to whom?
- It should also be probed whether money has been exchanged by any other person or MLA to bring down the government or change allegiance, apart from the persons named in the audio.
- Rajasthan rebel MLAs Bhanwar Lal Sharma, Vishvendra Singh suspended from Congress over allegations of conspiring with BJP against party.
LIVE: Special Congress Party Briefing by Shri @rssurjewala and Shri @GovindDotasra in Jaipur https://t.co/EaEs94geAP
- Congress (@INCIndia) July 17, 2020
Sachin Pilot's Guide To Political SurvivalPilot is young - a mere 42 to Gehlot's 69 - and could be better served by waiting it out with the Congress. Rahul Gandhi has reportedly told him he will become Chief Minister at a later point but for now, it would be tough to send him back in Jaipur and risk Gehlot becoming a lame duck. Instead, Pilot could be given a pivotal position at the centre."
Congress On Ventilator, No Plasma, Remdesivir Can Save It: AAP Leader Raghav ChadhaAmid the political turmoil in Rajasthan, the AAP on Thursday sought to project itself as an alternative, saying the Congress is on "ventilator" and is unlikely to survive while accusing the political parties of playing "dirty politics" at a time when the focus should be on battling the COVID-19 pandemic."
