Pilot, 18 other Congress MLAs face disqualification; Rajasthan Assembly Speaker issues notices

Aditi Tandon

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 15

The Congress on Wednesday initiated disqualification proceedings against sacked Rajasthan deputy CM Sachin Pilot and 18 other rebel party MLAs for breach of party discipline and conspiring to dislodge the duly elected state government.

Rajasthan Assembly Speaker CP Joshi has sent notices to the 19 Congress MLAs, including Pilot, who have been raising a banner of revolt against Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot-led Congress dispensation in the state.

The notices require MLAs to respond by July 17.

AICC has decided to dissolve all the District Congress Commities and Block Congress Committees of Rajasthan Pradesh with immediate effect. The process of formation of new committees will begin soon.

— Avinash Pande (@avinashpandeinc) July 15, 2020

The notices were issued after Congress chief Mahesh Joshi wrote to the Speaker seeking his intervention for proceeding against the rebels in accordance with the tenth schedule of the Constitution.

Joshi said in his letters: “Over the last several days, attempts have been made to topple the Congress government in Rajasthan through corruption, bribery and other illegal means. The MLAs in question have been deliberately conspiring against the Congress to destabilise its government and are acting openly against party interests.”

The chief also alleged in the letter that the rebel lawmakers deliberately absented themselves from the CLP meeting on July 13 and the second meet on July 14 also.

“The MLAs gave interviews to select TV channels challenging the government and levelling allegations against the party and the government,” the chief whip said.

He said these open challenges to party leadership is an undeniable expression of a revolt against the Congress and indicates they have voluntarily given up party membership by conspiring against the party.

The Congress cited the Constitution Tenth Schedule (anti Defection) law to say the MLAs with their action attract disqualification under the tenth schedule and should be accordingly proceeded against.

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

Ashok Gehlot claims he has the support of at least 104 MLAs. The current majority in assembly is 101.

By disqualifying rebels, the Congress can make their revolt irrelevant to the number game as the assembly strength will fall by 19 MLAs and accordingly the simple majority mark will also reduce giving Gehlot breathing space.

Congress dissolves all district and block committees in Rajasthan

The Congress on Wednesday also dissolved all district and block committees in Rajasthan after sacking Sachin Pilot and two ministers — Vishvendra Singh and Ramesh Meena.

AICC General Secretary Rajasthan Avinash Pande said all committees stand dissolved and will be formed soon.

The move came after Rajasthan Assembly Speaker CP Joshi sent notices to 19 MLAs including Pilot initiating disqualification proceedings against them under the anti-defection law.

Congress now seeks to rid the state organisation of Pilot’s influence.