Speaker sends notice to Pilot, 18 others

Aditi Tandon

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 15

The Congress government in Rajasthan appeared to have successfully weathered the desert storm today as the party moved for disqualification of 19 rebel MLAs, including Sachin Pilot, prompting the sacked Deputy CM to say that he was not joining the BJP.

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Speaking for the first time after being divested of his charge as Deputy CM and state Congress president, Pilot today said, “I am not joining the BJP. I have worked hard to defeat the BJP in Rajasthan. This speculation is being fuelled to tarnish my image.”

Pilot’s comments came hours after Congress chief whip in Rajasthan Assembly Mahesh Joshi petitioned Speaker CP Joshi to disqualify 19 dissident MLAs under the anti-defection law and the Speaker issued notices to all of them. The rebels have been asked to respond by Friday.

The Congress, through disqualification of the rebels, seeks to bring down the Assembly strength from the current 200 and secure an edge in the power game to thwart any potential future threat to its government.

As of today, CM Ashok Gehlot-led state dispensation looked comfortable claiming the backing of 102 MLAs in the 200-member Assembly. Three dissident lawmakers from the Pilot camp had also returned to the party by the evening.

The Congress, meanwhile, offered Pilot another chance with party leader Randeep Surjewala saying, “We heard Sachin Pilot say he is not joining the BJP. If that is the case, he should decline the hospitality of the BJP… and come back to the Congress family.”