Rajasthan Political Crisis LIVE Updates: The power tussle between Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot intensified further. The Congress on Tuesday cracked down on Sachin Pilot, stripping the dissident leader of the posts of Rajasthan's deputy chief minister and the party's state unit president and sacking two loyalists from the state Cabinet.
Though the party seems to have the numbers, for now, to hang on to power in Rajasthan, the development deepens the crisis in the Congress which has lost two major states -- Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh -- over the past year.
Ministers Vishvendra Singh and Ramesh Meena were also removed from the Cabinet after a meeting of the Congress Legislature Party, its second in the last two days. Catch all the LIVE updates here:
From Raipur to Delhi, Congress is rattled. There's no leadership in andthey've no control, so they're making wrong decisions. This has caused dissatisfaction. Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh are a result of that dissatisfaction.
They are now scared that what happened in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, will happen in Chhattisgarh too.
(who was removed as Rajasthan minister): TheChief Ministergave a statement today that money is being offered andaccepted. People were dissatisfied with his pattern of work;bureaucrats dominated andlawmakers were unable to work. The CMnever paid heed to our demands andhad a tyrannical attitude.
Today he is saying that crores of money is being offered and accepted. All I would like to ask him is that when we were in BSP and later joined the Congress, how much did he give us? He should answer that honestly.
Sachin Pilot became an MP, Union Minister in UPA-II, PCC President in Rajasthan and Deputy CM. He couldn't become the CM becausein the Congress, the High Command sends an observer and the opinion of MLAs is ascertained, whether in Madhya Pradeshor Rajasthan.The leader who enjoys support of elected MLAs is made the chief minister.
Whatever grievances you have, they need to be resolved within the forum of the party. There is no hurry for Sachin Pilot. If at all there is a future for him, it is in the Congress party. He has to realise that. He says he won't join BJP, it is good. (ANI)
If anybody wants to leave the party they will. It opens the door for young leaders like you, said Rahul Gandhi at an NSUI meeting today,sources told news agency ANI.
If Sachin Pilot doesn't want to join BJP, he should refuse Haryana government's hospitality. (PTI)
The Congress on Wednesday dissolved its all district and block committees in Rajasthan in a bid to revamp the state unit of the party.
Announcing the decision, AICC general secretary in-charge for the Rajasthan Congress Avinash Pande said new committees will be formed soon. Sources said the decision has come in the wake of Sachin Pilot's sacking as the deputy chief minister and the state Congress chief.
The move is considered a step forward in removing all Pilot's men holding party positions at the grassroots level. "The AICC has decided to dissolve all District Congress Committees and Block Congress Committees of Rajasthan Pradesh with immediate effect. The process of formation of new committees will begin soon," Pande said on Twitter. (PTI)
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Wednesday accused rebel Congress leader Sachin Pilot of involvement in horse-trading with the BJP.In an interaction with reporters here, the Chief Minister, however, did not mention Pilot by his name but said the "former Pradesh Congress Committee president" was himself doing the deal.
Gehlot said he has the proof that horse-trading was being committed to topple his government. Those who are giving clarifications were themselves involved in horse trading,Gehlot told reporters. (PTI)
State BJP President Satish Punia meets senior party leaders, amid the current political situation in the state.
AICC general secretaryAvinash Pande: The party's doors have not been closed for the pilot, may God give him goodwill so he realizes his mistake. I pray that he comes out of the elusive trap of BJP.
Sanjay Jha, who has beensuspended by the Congress for anti-party activities, onWednesday said he is loyal to the party's ideology, but his"fidelity is not to any individual or family.
Jha in a tweet on Wednesday said, My loyalty is tothe Congress ideology. My fidelity is not to any individual orfamily. I remain a Gandhi-Nehruvian idealist (a vanishingbreed within Congress). I will continue to raise issues thatare fundamental to the resurgence of my party. The battle has just begun."
Reacting to his suspension, Jha on Tuesday wonderedwhat "anti-party activities" he had indulged in to invite theaction from the Congress. (PTI)
Congress had filed a petition with Speaker CP Joshi, seeking the disqualification of all party MLAs who did not attend the CLP meeting, AICC general secretary Avinash Pande said on Wednesday. He said it was up to the Speaker to decide what action to take if the replies to the notices were not satisfactory. (PTI)
Rajasthan Speaker CP Joshi has issued notices to Sachin Pilot and other rebel Congress MLAs after the party sought their disqualification from the state assembly.Sacked deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot and the other MLAs were asked to respond to the notices by Friday, sources said.
The notices were issued on Tuesday.Congress sources said Pilot and 18 other MLAs had defied a whip and did not attend its legislature party meetings.
