Rajasthan Political Crisis Updates: BJP to hold meeting of party MLAs; ex-CM Vasundhara Raje likely to attend, say reports

23:25 (IST)

Rajasthan GOVT Political Crisis LATEST Updates

Avinash Pande dissolves all units of Rajasthan's Congress unit

Rajasthan Congress in-charge Avinash Pande has dissolved the State Executive unit, all other departments and cells of the Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee, reports ANI. , "The new State Executive unit, all departments and cells will be re-constituted after new PCC chief (Govind Singh Dotasara) was appointed today," the news agency quotes him as saying.

22:27 (IST)

Rajasthan GOVT Political Crisis LATEST Updates

Congress ministers leave for Fairmont Hotel

Jaipur: #Rajasthan ministers leave from the residence of Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot for Fairmont Hotel, after the state cabinet and Council of Ministers meetings concluded. pic.twitter.com/KvlSgkeSxu

— ANI (@ANI) July 14, 2020

22:09 (IST)

Rajasthan GOVT Political Crisis LATEST Updates

Meeting of ministers at CM's residence concludes

Jaipur: The state cabinet and Council of Ministers meetings at the residence of #Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot have now concluded. https://t.co/eHxvAiOsVL

— ANI (@ANI) July 14, 2020

21:57 (IST)

Rajasthan GOVT Political Crisis LATEST Updates

Congress suspends Sanjay Jha for anti-party activities

Sanjay Jha has been suspended from Congress party with immediate effect "for anti-party activities and breach of discipline." pic.twitter.com/ZLIkHvyn0A

— ANI (@ANI) July 14, 2020

21:34 (IST)

Rajasthan GOVT Political Crisis LATEST Updates

Vasundhara Raje to attend BJP meet tomorrow, say reports

 Former Rajasthan CM Vasundhara Raje will attend a meeting of BJP MLAs at 11am inJaipur tomorrow, reports News18 quoting sources.

21:16 (IST)

Rajasthan GOVT Political Crisis LATEST Updates

Sacked minister Vishwendra Singh Bharatpur lashes out at Ashok Gehlot

Vishwendra Singh Bharatpur, who was sacked from his ministerial post today, took a shot at Chief minister Ashok Gehlot, saying " Today was just a 20-20 match,  test match will begin from tomorrow."

मुख्यमंत्री @ashokgehlot51 जी 👇 https://t.co/ymti6q7PFl

— Vishvendra Singh Bharatpur (@vishvendrabtp) July 14, 2020

20:46 (IST)

Rajasthan GOVT Political Crisis LATEST Updates

Council of ministers to meet after Cabinet meeting

 

According to News18, the Cabinet ministers held discussions over vacancies after MLAs and ministers were sacked. The Cabinet meeting will be followed by another of the Council of Ministers. After the sacking of the three ministers, the 12 senior ministers, including the CM, remain in the Cabinet. The council of ministers has 10 ministers of state. 

20:34 (IST)

Rajasthan GOVT Political Crisis LATEST Updates

BJP holds meeting 

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) held a meeting today at their party office in Rajasthan over the current political situation in the state. Party's state president Satish Poonia and party leaders Om Mathur, Gulab Chand Kataria and Rajendra Rathore were present at the meeting, reports ANI.

20:29 (IST)

Rajasthan GOVT Political Crisis LATEST Updates

Union minister steps up attack on Congress

 

Reiterating the BJP's line of defence against Ashok Gehlot's accusation of against the party for the current crisis, Union minister Gajendra Shekhawat said that the presidents and workers of the four Congress units inclduing the Youth Congress, Seva Dal and student organisations turned against their own government. The Inspite of this, the saffron party is being blamed, he said. 

 

कांग्रेस की चारों इकाइयों (संगठन, युवा कांग्रेस, सेवा दल और छात्र संगठन) के अध्यक्ष और कार्यकर्ता अपनी ही सरकार के खिलाफ हो गए!

कांग्रेस का संगठन कांग्रेस की सरकार
फिर भी भाजपा कसूरवार!!#RajasthanPoliticalCrisis

— Gajendra Singh Shekhawat (@gssjodhpur) July 14, 2020

20:19 (IST)

Rajasthan GOVT Political Crisis LATEST Updates

Sad to see Sachin Pilot leave Congress, tweets Shashi Tharoor

Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor said that he considered Sachin Pilot as one of the "best and brightest" leaders in the party and that he was sad over the current state of affairs.

I am sad to see @SachinPilot leave @INCIndia. I consider him one of our best & brightest, and wish it had not come to this. Instead of parting, he should have joined the effort to make the Party a better& more effective instrument for his, and our, dreams.

— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) July 14, 2020

19:57 (IST)

Rajasthan GOVT Political Crisis LATEST Updates

Sachin Pilot thanks his supporters

Hours after being sacked from the posts of Rajasthan deputy chief minister and state Congress president, rebel Congress leader Sachin Pilot took to Twitter to express gratitude to his supporters.

My heartfelt thanks and gratitude to all those who have come out in my support today.
राम राम सा !

— Sachin Pilot (@SachinPilot) July 14, 2020

19:50 (IST)

Rajasthan GOVT Political Crisis LATEST Updates

CM congratulates Youth Congress chief

Congratulations to Ganesh Ghogra ji, Abhishek Choudhary ji and Hem Singh Shekhawat ji for being appointed as State President of Youth Congress, NSUI and Seva Dal respectively.

— Ashok Gehlot (@ashokgehlot51) July 14, 2020

19:35 (IST)

Rajasthan GOVT Political Crisis LATEST Updates

State Cabinet meeting to begin shortly

19:34 (IST)

Rajasthan GOVT Political Crisis LATEST Updates

Gehlot congratulates Govind Singh Dotsara

 

Rajasthan chief minister congratulated Govind Singh Dotasara on being appointed as the president of the Congress' state unit . Gehlot expressed confidence that "under the guidance and able leadership of  Sonia(Gandhi) and Rahul (Gandhi)", Dotsara will "strengthen organisation and take everyone along". Earlier today, Dotsara was appointed as the president of the Rajasthan unit of the party after Sachin Pilot was removed from the post.

Congratulations to Govind Singh Dotasara ji for being appointed as President of #Rajasthan PCC. I am sure under the guidance and able leadership of HCP Soniaji and Rahulji - you will strengthen organisation and take everyone along. Wish you all success. pic.twitter.com/gGdNtV6sf2

— Ashok Gehlot (@ashokgehlot51) July 14, 2020

19:28 (IST)

Rajasthan GOVT Political Crisis LATEST Updates

Kept like 'hostage', alleges Rajasthan MLA in video

 

Earlier today, two video clips of Bharatiya Tribal Party MLA Rajkumar Roat surfaced on social media with the leader claiming in one of these that he has been kept like a "hostage" and not allowed to go to his constituency.The videos are shot in a car with the MLA occupying the front seat. One of these is purportedly shot by the MLA himself. It is not clear when the videos were shot.   In the video uploaded on social media in the evening, a police inspector is seen taking away keys of his car, with a constable saying "there is a threat". In one of the video clips that surfaced earlier in the day, the Chorasi MLA,was heard saying that he has been kept like a hostage. The MLA said when he tried to leave from the MLA hostel in Jaipur for his constituency, three to four police vehicles came there and did not let him go.He is seen alleging that police vehicles surrounded his car and his keys were taken away from him. The MLA also showed two police vehicles parked around his car.

#WATCH Rajkumar Roat, BTP (Bhartiya Tribal Party) MLA from Chorasi in a video, alleges police not letting him move, have taken his car keys and it's a hostage like situation. #Rajasthan pic.twitter.com/FBbBXCCQoy

— ANI (@ANI) July 14, 2020

19:23 (IST)

Rajasthan GOVT Political Crisis LATEST Updates

Gehlot, ministers leave for Cabinet meeting

Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, along with state ministers, has left from the Fairmont Hotel for his residence, where a Cabinet meeting will take place at 7.30

#Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, along with state ministers, leave from Fairmont Hotel for his residence.

State cabinet meeting to be held at CM's residence at 7:30 pm and meeting of Council of Ministers at 8:00 pm today. pic.twitter.com/Y7rsjjkkbD

— ANI (@ANI) July 14, 2020

18:53 (IST)

Rajasthan GOVT Political Crisis LATEST Updates

What anti-party statement did we make, asks sacked Cabinet minister

"What anti-party statement did we make? We only wanted to get the (Congress) high command's attention to promises in our manifesto as we haven't been able to deliver them in close to two years of being in power. For what fault (of ours) was action taken?: Vishvendra Singh,who was dropped as Cabinet minister

What anti-party statement did we make?We only wanted to get high command's attention to promises in our manifesto as we haven't been able to deliver them in close to 2 yrs of being in power. For what fault was action taken?: Vishvendra Singh,who was dropped as minister #Rajasthan pic.twitter.com/e0DnKEXOE9

— ANI (@ANI) July 14, 2020

18:46 (IST)

Rajasthan GOVT Political Crisis LATEST Updates

59 members of Tonk's Congress unit resign

 

59 office bearers of Tonk unit of the Rajasthan Congress tender their resignations in protest against the removal of Sachin Pilot as the Deputy Chief Minister and Rajasthan PCC Chief, reports ANI. Earlier, the state president of the NSUI, the student wing of the Congress, Abhimanyu Poonia had also resigned over Pilot's removal.

59 office bearers of Tonk unit of Congress party in #Rajasthan tender their resignations in protest against the removal of Sachin Pilot as the Deputy CM and Rajasthan PCC Chief. pic.twitter.com/rMR9VMCkep

— ANI (@ANI) July 14, 2020

18:41 (IST)

Rajasthan GOVT Political Crisis LATEST Updates

No place for ability in Congress, says Jyotiraditya Scindia

"In present circumstances, there is no place for ability in the Congress party. This can be seen in every state, said BJP's Jyotiraditya Scindia, whose rebellion had led to fall on the Congress government in March. Scindia later joined the BJP."When Kamal Nath was CM he didn't have time to hold a meeting over COVID (sic) but he had the time to go to Indore for IIFA awards. A fighter came to the front and took the reins in his hands on 23 March and single-handedly faced the pandemic in the state," ANI quotes him as saying.

In present circumstances, there is no place for ability in the Congress party. This can be seen in every state: Jyotiraditya Scindia, BJP on political crisis in #Rajasthan pic.twitter.com/VNIHo3GIvg

— ANI (@ANI) July 14, 2020

18:28 (IST)

Rajasthan GOVT Political Crisis LATEST Updates

Anyone who believes in BJP's ideology will be welcomed, says Gajendra Singh Shekhawat

Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhwat said that anyone who believes in the BJP's ideology will be welcomed with open arms. According to reports, Sachin Pilot has said he will not join the BJP but the saffron party had on Monday said that all options are open when asked about speculations of support to the Pilot camp.

So many people joined BJP after its establishment, making it the world's largest party. If anyone, who believes in our ideology, wants to join the party, we will definitely welcome them with open arms: Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat#Rajasthan pic.twitter.com/pwoiPkS0K1

— ANI (@ANI) July 14, 2020

18:10 (IST)

Rajasthan GOVT Political Crisis LATEST Updates

Congress district president of Pali resigns

Rajasthan: Congress district president of Pali, Chunnilal Chadwas, resigns from his post, says he is "hurt by the undemocratic removal of Sachin Pilot as state unit chief". pic.twitter.com/Fa0fAzvnPd

— ANI (@ANI) July 14, 2020

18:02 (IST)

Rajasthan GOVT Political Crisis LATEST Updates

Pilot must have been facing 'humiliation' in Congress, claims Uma Bharti

 

BJP national vice president Uma Bharti attributed Sachin Pilot's rebellion to "humiliation" within the Congress. Bharti said, "Sachin is the son of (late Congress leader) Rajesh Pilot, who was like a brother to me and we shared family relations. So I know that his family has self-respect.I can understand he must have been facing humiliation for the last one and a half years," she said.

 

17:51 (IST)

Rajasthan GOVT Political Crisis LATEST Updates

Congress has lost two stalwart young leaders, tweets Priya Dutt

Another friend leaves the party both sachin and jyotirajya were colleagues & good friends unfortunately our party has lost 2 stalwart young leaders with great potential. I don't believe being ambitious is wrong. They have worked hard through the most difficult times.

— Priya Dutt (@PriyaDutt_INC) July 14, 2020

17:18 (IST)

Rajasthan GOVT Political Crisis LATEST Updates

'Weakness' in Congress behind current crisis, says BJP's Om Prakash Mathur

 

The political crisis in Rajasthan has been caused by "weakness" within the Congress, the BJP said on Tuesday as it hit back at Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot for blaming it for the turmoil. "Dear Ashok Gehlot, closing your eyes does not make the sun disappear. There is weakness in the structure of your house, and you are blaming the BJP national leadership for this," BJP vice president Om Prakash Mathur said on Twitter.

#RajasthanPoliticalCrisis प्रिय @ashokgehlot51 आँख बंद करने से सूर्य का लोप नहीं होता... आपके घर का ढाँचा कमजोर है और आप @BJP4India के राष्ट्रीय नेतृत्व पर इसका आरोप लगा रहे। pic.twitter.com/DNEk5doGOd

— Om Prakash (Om ji ) Mathur (@OmMathur_bjp) July 14, 2020

17:09 (IST)

Rajasthan GOVT Political Crisis LATEST Updates

Rajasthan Cabinet to meet at 7.30 pm

A meeting of the Rajasthan Cabinet will be held at Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot's residence at 7:30 pm today and a meeting of Council of Ministers is scheduled for 8:00 pm, reports ANI.

17:05 (IST)

Rajasthan GOVT Political Crisis LATEST Updates

Abhishek Choudhary appointed as Rajasthan NSUI president

Important Notification

Shri Abhishek Choudhary has been appointed as Rajasthan NSUI State President with immediate effect. pic.twitter.com/u7HJH5WC6l

— NSUI (@nsui) July 14, 2020

16:51 (IST)

Rajasthan GOVT Political Crisis LATEST Updates

Rajasthan Youth Congess president removed from post, claims report

 

According to India Today, Ladlun MLA Mukesh Bhakar, who is with Sachin Pilot, has been dropped as the Rajasthan Pradesh Youth Congress chief and Congress MLA Ganesh Ghogra is set take the post.

16:48 (IST)

Rajasthan GOVT Political Crisis LATEST Updates

 NSUI president resigns after Gehlot's sacking

 

NSUI state president Abhimanyu Poonia on Tuesday tendered his resignation after Sachin Pilot was sacked from the posts of Rajasthan's deputy chief minister and the party's state unit chief.  He also claimed that about 400-500 post holders in the Youth Congress, NSUI and Seva Dal have resigned in protest against the latest development. "I have resigned from the post in support of Sachin Pilot. They have also removed an elected Youth Congress president," Poonia said.  

 

16:32 (IST)

Rajasthan GOVT Political Crisis LATEST Updates

Cabinet expansion likely on 16 July, say reports

Chief minister Ashok Gehlot has sought rime from the time to expand his Cabinet on Thursday, after sacking two ministers and deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot, said reports. According to News18, Gehlot is set to expand his Cabinet at 4.30 pm on 16 July. at the Raj Bhavan after reshuffling his Cabinet.

16:23 (IST)

Rajasthan GOVT Political Crisis LATEST Updates

Personal ambitions insignificant in front of other challenges, says Salman Khurshid

 

Senior Congress leader Salman Khurshid said he was "sad'" to see the events taking place in Rajasthan but the party must focus on challenges which "made personal ambitions and expectations insignificant".

Sad to see events unfold in Rajasthan. Sad particularly because the son of my dearest late friend, Rajesh Pilot is at the vortex. We have challenges ahead that make personal ambitions and expectations insignificant. Let us rededicate our vision and energy

— Salman Khurshid (@salman7khurshid) July 14, 2020

16:09 (IST)

Rajasthan GOVT Political Crisis LATEST Updates

Gehlot must prove majority before expanding Cabinet: Gulab Chandra Kataria

"A vertical division can be seen in the Congress party in Rajasthan, with the sacking of the deputy chief minister. Now, if the chief minister wants to expand his Cabinet, he should first prove majority on the floor. He will not send a good message if he does it without floor test" ANI quotes BJP leader Gulab Chandra Kataria as saying.

16:04 (IST)

Rajasthan GOVT Political Crisis LATEST Updates

No one dispute Sachin Pilot's hard work, says Jitin Prasada

 

Congress leader Jitin Prasada tweeted in defence of Sachin Pilot, who he described as 'not just a colleague but also a friend.' "No one can take away the fact that all these years he has worked with dedication for the party. Sincerely hope the situation can still be salvaged. Sad it has come to this..." he said.

Sachin Pilot is not just a collegues but my friend. No one can take away the fact that all these years he has worked with dedication for the party. Sincerely hope the situation can still be salvaged. Sad it has come to this...

— Jitin Prasada जितिन प्रसाद (@JitinPrasada) July 14, 2020

15:49 (IST)

Rajasthan GOVT Political Crisis LATEST Updates

BJP to demand for floor test

BJP leader in Rajasthan Assembly Gulab Chand Kataria has asked chief minister Ashok Gehlot to seek vote of confidence on floor of the House, said reports. According to News18, he said that Gehlot does not have majority and this can only be proved in the house.

15:35 (IST)

Rajasthan GOVT Political Crisis LATEST Updates

Sachin Pilot played into BJP's hands, alleges Gehlot

 

 "There is nothing in the hands of Sachin Pilot. He is playing into the hands of the BJP which is making all the arrangements.BJP has arranged that resort and they are managing everything. The same team which worked in Madhya Pradesh is at work here:," said Gehlot after meeting Governor Kalraj Mishra. "I am very sad that horse-trading was going on. It is for the first time in the country that democracy is under such grave threat," he said.

15:31 (IST)

Rajasthan GOVT Political Crisis LATEST Updates

They have been hobnobbing with the BJP, says Ashok Gehlot

Its not like we're happy...we lost three of our colleagues due to majboori... I haven't complained against them But the entire attitude over the past few months has been of 'aa bail mujhe maar'....given the tweets & statements of last few months... I've been impartial to all MLAs. It is duty to respect the feelings of common people and maintain unity in the government. Ive always treated everyone as colleagues. Ive never discriminated...they have been given whatever they wanted. No one is happy with what happened...and we tried to reach out but hobnobbing with the BJP has taken place. They've also spoken of starting their own party...

#WATCH: The attitude was similar to the saying 'aa bail mujhe maar' given the tweets & statements of last few months... I've been impartial to all MLAs...no one is happy about the decisions & we tried to reach out but hobnobbing with BJP has taken place: Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot pic.twitter.com/04YqEbFcTV

— ANI (@ANI) July 14, 2020

15:16 (IST)

Rajasthan GOVT Political Crisis LATEST Updates

BJP is running the show, alleges Gehlot

“There is nothing in Sachin Pilot's hands, it is the BJP which is running the show. BJP has arranged that resort and they are managing everything. The same team which worked in Madhya Pradesh is at work here,” says Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot.

14:55 (IST)

Rajasthan GOVT Political Crisis LATEST Updates

Sachin Pilot changes Twitter bio

Soon after being removed by Congress as Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister and state Congress unit chief, Sachin Pilot on Tuesday changed his bio on Twitter to MLA from Tonk.

14:50 (IST)

Rajasthan GOVT Political Crisis LATEST Updates

Guv accepts proposal to removed Pilot as Deputy CM

Rajasthan governor Kalraj Mishra has accepted CM Ashok Gehlot's proposal to remove Sachin Pilot as Deputy CM, and Vishvender Singh and Ramesh Meena as ministers, news agency ANI reported

14:46 (IST)

Rajasthan GOVT Political Crisis LATEST Updates

Pilot's nameplate removed from Congress HQ in Jaipur

Sachin Pilot's nameplate has been removed from Congress headquarter in Jaipur after he was sacked as deputy chief minister and PCC chief, reports ANI. Govind Singh Dotasra has been appointed as state unit chief.

Rajasthan: Sachin Pilot's nameplate removed from Congress headquarter in Jaipur after he was removed as Deputy CM and PCC Chief, Govind Singh Dotasra appointed as state unit chief. pic.twitter.com/m0Nzd6iSD3

— ANI (@ANI) July 14, 2020

14:40 (IST)

Rajasthan GOVT Political Crisis LATEST Updates

Pilot enjoyed Sonia Gandhi's affection from young age, says Surjewala 

Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said Sachin Pilot enjoyed the affection and blessings of Congress president Sonia Gandhi and was given political power at a young age. Yet, he and other ministers were trying to topple the state government as part of a BJP conspiracy, he added.

Sources told PTI Gehlot briefed the Governor on recent developments in the state, caught in the grip of a power struggle between him and Pilot.

14:35 (IST)

Rajasthan GOVT Political Crisis LATEST Updates

Ashok Gehlot meets governor after sacking Pilot

According to ANI, Ashok Gehlot on Tuesday met Governor Kalraj Mishra at Raj Bhavan in Jaipur after the sacking Sachin Pilot. The BJP said a floor test is the only way to prove the strength of Congress government in the state, according to NDTV.

Senior BJP leader Om Mathur, who is in charge of Rajasthan, has left for Jaipur, where a meeting is underway to discuss the situation, reports Scoll.in

Rajasthan: CM Ashok Gehlot meets Governor Kalraj Mishra, at Raj Bhawan in Jaipur. pic.twitter.com/uyhOmreLZC

— ANI (@ANI) July 14, 2020

14:27 (IST)

Rajasthan GOVT Political Crisis LATEST Updates

'The truth can be troubled, but not defeated,' say Pilot says in tweet

सत्य को परेशान किया जा सकता है पराजित नहीं।

— Sachin Pilot (@SachinPilot) July 14, 2020

14:06 (IST)

Rajasthan GOVT Political Crisis LATEST Updates

Regret that Pilot and his associates were swayed by BJP's plot, says Surjewala 

Addressing media after the CLP meeting on Tuesday, Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala accused the BJP of misleading Sachin Pilot and other Congress leaders. "I regret that Sachin Pilot and some of his associates have been swayed by BJP's plot and are now conspiring to topple the Congress govt elected by 8 crore Rajasthanis. It is unacceptable," said Surjewala. 

#WATCH: I regret that Sachin Pilot and some of his associates have been swayed by BJP's plot and are now conspiring to topple the Congress govt elected by 8 crore Rajasthanis. It is unacceptable: RS Surjewala, Congress #Rajasthan pic.twitter.com/yopWWJ32Cg

— ANI (@ANI) July 14, 2020

14:03 (IST)

Rajasthan GOVT Political Crisis LATEST Updates

Vishvendra Singh, Ramesha Meena removed from ministerial posts, says Surjewala

Along with Sachin Pilot, Vishvendra Singh and Ramesh Meena have also removed as ministers, Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala told PTI.

13:58 (IST)

Rajasthan GOVT Political Crisis LATEST Updates

Sachin Pilot removed from posts of Deputy CM, state Congress president

The power tussle in Rajasthan between Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot made a dramatic turn on Tuesday, with Randeep Surjewala announcing that the rebel party leader has been removed from posts of Rajasthan deputy chief minister, state unit president. 

Govind Dotra has been appointed in place of Pliot as the new Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Chief.

Rajasthan Political Crisis Updates:  Former Rajasthan CM Vasundhara Raje will attend a meeting of BJP MLAs at 11am in Jaipur on Wednesday, reports News18 quoting sources.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot is holding a Cabinet meeting at his residence. Reports said that a reshuffle in ministerial berths is likely.

59 office bearers of Tonk unit of the Rajasthan Congress tender their resignations in protest against the removal of Sachin Pilot as the Deputy Chief Minister and Rajasthan PCC Chief, reports ANI.

A meeting of the Rajasthan Cabinet will be held at Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot's residence at 7:30 pm today and a meeting of Council of Ministers is scheduled for 8:00 pm, reports ANI.

"A vertical division can be seen in the Congress party in Rajasthan, with the sacking of the deputy chief minister. Now, if the chief minister wants to expand his Cabinet, he should first prove majority on the floor," said BJP leader Gulan Chand Kataria.

According to reports, Cabinet expansion is likely to take place at 4.30 pm on Thursday.

 Speaking after the Congress announced the sacking of Pilot and his two aides from the state cabinet, Gehlot alleged that that the BJP wanted to repeat what it had done in Madhya Pradesh.

The power tussle in Rajasthan between Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot made a dramatic turn on Tuesday, with Randeep Surjewala announcing that rebel party leader Pilot has been removed from posts of Rajasthan deputy chief minister, state unit president.

Amid the infighting between the Congress-led state government, Govind Dotra has been appointed in place of Pliot as the new Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Chief.

The second meeting of Congress Legislature Party in two days began Tuesday morning with Rajasthan's Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot turning down appeals to participate.

Ahead of the meeting, Congress general secretary Avinash Pande made another bid to reach out to the rebel leader, who had skipped the first CLP meeting at Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot's home on Monday.

Eighteen other Congress MLAs had also not attended Monday's meeting, according to sources. But independents and MLAs from other parties participated, expressing support for Gehlot.

Tuesday's meeting was said to be a second chance for Pilot, who is also the president of the state unit of the party.

But MLAs considered close to Pilot were again not seen there, and are calling for a floor test in the 200-member state assembly.

Srimadhopar MLA Deepender Singh Shekhawat, who was Speaker in the assembly during the term of the previous Congress government, came out in the open Tuesday with the demand.

The Pilot camp also released late at night a 10-second video clip of a group of Congress MLAs sitting together. There appeared to be 16 of them in the clip.

Tourism Minister Vishvendra Singh tweeted the video, captioning it as "Family".

The latest Congress meeting is being held at a resort where Gehlot and other MLAs are camping since Monday. It was scheduled to begin at 10 am, but started at least an hour later.

"I appeal to Sachin Pilot and all his fellow MLAs to join today's Legislature Party meeting, Avinash Pande, who is the Rajasthan in-charge at the AICC, tweeted in the morning.

While expressing your faith in the ideology and values of the Congress, please make your presence felt and strengthen the hands of Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi," he said.

He told reporters that a second chance is being given to Pilot and hoped that all MLAs come and extend solidarity with the leadership for which people voted to ensure the state's development.

Congress leader Randeep Surjewala on Monday night announced summoning of the second CLP meeting, amid attempts by the party's top leadership to woo back dissidents led by Pilot.

Former party president Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra are among the senior leaders who had been in touch with Pilot, sources said.

Party leaders had said 106 of 122 MLAs from Congress and the allies -- attended the first CLP meeting, a claim contested by the Pilot camp.

Pilot and his supporters claimed to have the backing of 30 Congress MLAs and some independents.

Pilot has been upset since he was denied the Rajasthan chief minister's post after the December 2018 assembly elections.

In the 200-member assembly, the Congress has 107 MLAs and the BJP 72. In the past, the ruling party has claimed the support of 13 independents, two MLAs each from the CPM and the Bhartiya Tribal Party (BTP), and one from the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD).

But CPM and BTP have now indicated that their MLAs could stay neutral till the Congress settles its factional feud.

In recent days, the Gehlot camp has also distanced itself from three of the independents, after their names surfaced in an alleged plot to topple the state government.

The current crisis began Friday when the Rajasthan Police sent a notice to Pilot, asking him to record his statement over the alleged bid to bring down the government.

The same notice was sent to the chief minister and some other MLAs, but Pilot's supporters claimed that it was only meant to humiliate him.

The Special Operation Group (SOG) had sent out the notices after tapping a phone conversation between two men, who were allegedly discussing the fall of the Gehlot government.

Gehlot had alleged that the opposition BJP was trying to lure Congress MLAs. The BJP had dismissed the allegation, saying that the developments only reflected a power struggle within the ruling party.

July 15, 2020 at 07:03AM