Pilot, 18 rebel Raj MLAs face disqualification, Speaker issues notices

JAIPUR/NEW DELHI :

Cong dissolves district, block committees in Rajasthan

Pilot should admit his mistake, should not try to topple Gehlot Govt: Avinash Pande

RAJASTHAN Speaker has issued notices to Sachin Pilot and 18 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. The MLAs had defied a whip and did not attend its legislature party meetings held on Monday and Tuesday. “Notices have been issued to 19 rebel MLAs, including Sachin Pilot, on Tuesday,” Speaker C P Joshi told PTI to Wednesday. Sources said, the notices were sent after the chief whip of the Congress in Rajasthan Assembly, Mahesh Joshi, wrote to the Speaker, seeking proceedings against the rebel MLAs in accordance with the 10th Schedule of the Constitution. The Congress also cited past Supreme Court rulings to seek their disqualification.

The Congress appointed Govind Singh Dotasara as the President of the party’s Rajasthan unit. Among those sent notices are Vishvendra Singh and Ramesh Meena, who were sacked along with Pilot from the State Cabinet after their rebellion against Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot. Others include Deepender Singh Shekhawat, Bhanwar Lal Sharma and Harish Chandra Meena, who had given statements to the media challenging the Gehlot Government.

The chief whip alleged in his complaint that the MLAs deliberately conspired against the Congress, acting openly against its interests. Announcing the decision, AICC General Secretary in-charge for the Rajasthan Congress Avinash Pande said that 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. Avinash Pande also gave a piece of advice to Pilot to admit his mistake and not make an attempt to topple the Ashok Gehlot Government.

Not joining BJP: Sachin Pilot

NEW DELHI,

July 15 (PTI)

“I AM not joining the BJP,” Congress leader Sachin Pilot said on Wednesday, asserting that the speculation about his switching sides was being fuelled by certain leaders in Rajasthan to tarnish his image. Pilot’s remarks come a day after the Congress sacked him as Rajasthan’s Deputy Chief Minister and the party’s State unit President. Two loyalists of Pilot were also dropped from the State Cabinet. “I have worked very hard to bring the Congress party back in the Government and defeat the BJP,” he told PTI.

Pilot involved in horse-trading: Gehlot

JAIPUR,

July 15 (PTI)

RAJASTHAN Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot accused rebel Congress leader Sachin Pilot of involvement in horse-trading with the BJP to topple his Government in the State. In an interaction with reporters, the Chief Minister, however, did not mention Pilot by his name but said the “former Pradesh Congress Committee President” was himself “doing the deal”. “We have the proof that horse-trading was being committed. Those who were part of the conspiracy are giving clarifications,” he said.