Rajasthan political crisis: Congress Legislative Party sacks Sachin Pilot as Deputy CM, state unit chief

The Congress Legislative Party, on July 14, passed a resolution to sack Sachin Pilot as the Deputy Chief Minister of Rajasthan and the state unit chief.

Two other state ministers Vishvendra Singh Bharatpur and Ramesh Meena, considered close to Pilot, were also removed from the Cabinet.

Responding to these developments, Pilot tweeted in Hindi, "Truth can be disturbed, not defeated."

Congress leader Randeep Surjewala confirmed that Govind Singh Dotasra had been appointed as the new state unit chief.

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"Influenced by the conspiracy of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Sachin Pilot and some ministers are making strategy to topple elected Congress government in Rajasthan. This is not acceptable. Therefore, Congress has decided to remove Sachin Pilot, Vishvendra Singh Bharatpur and Ramesh Meena from the position of Deputy CM and ministers, respectively," Surjewala told reporters.

#WATCH Congress party has decided to remove Sachin Pilot as Deputy CM and Rajasthan PCC Chief. Vishvender Singh & Ramesh Meena removed as Ministers: Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala #Rajasthan pic.twitter.com/S8MFqF8ApI

— ANI (@ANI) July 14, 2020

Claiming support of 109 Members of Legislative Assembly (MLAs), Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot will reportedly parade the legislators at the Governor’s residence.

Opposition BJP leaders also met on July 14 in state capital Jaipur to discuss the political situation.

In the 200-member Legislative Assembly, the Congress has 107 MLAs and the BJP 72.

Also read: Sachin Pilot-loyalist MLAs demand floor test in state Assembly

The current crisis began on July 10 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.

Also read - Opinion | Gehlot vs Pilot: Congress yet again lets down its young leaders

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.

(With inputs from PTI)