Rajasthan crisis: 59 office bearers of Congress local unit resign

01:28 July 15

State executive, all departments, cell of Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee dissolved: Avinash Pande

All India Congress Committee (AICC) General Secretary and party in-charge for Rajasthan Avinash Pande dissolved all cells and departments of the state party unit. Taking to Twitter, Pandey announced the decision late on Tuesday night. 

"The state executive, all departments and cells of Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee have been dissolved with immediate effect. With the appointment of the new president of Rajasthan Pradesh Congress, new state executive, departments and cells will be formed," Pande tweeted in Hindi.

In another tweet, he said that no congressmen will communicate with the media without the permission of newly appointed Rajasthan Congress president Govind Singh Dotasara.

01:27 July 15

59 office bearers of Congress local unit resign

A total of 59 office bearers of the Tonk unit of the Congress resigned on Tuesday, after the removal of Sachin Pilot as the Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister and state Congress chief.

Apart from them, Chunnilal Chadwas, the district Congress president of Pali, also resigned from his post. Explaining the reason behind this decision, Chadwas said he was "hurt by the undemocratic removal of Sachin Pilot as state unit chief".

22:49 July 14

Cabinet meeting ends, Congress likely to take action against rebel MLAs

According to the claim by Gehlot faction, all the ministers were present in the meeting. As soon as the meeting started, Govind Singh Dotasara was first congratulated on being elected as the new PCC chief.

The cabinet sitting was followed by a meeting of the Council of Ministers, in which, besides discussing the current political situation, the future roadmap of the government was discussed upon.

At the same time, a tough decision is likely to be taken against rebel MLAs. Sources said that show-cause notices will be issued to all such MLAs including Sachin Pilot. After the dismissal from all Pilot camp ministers, now it is the turn of the MLAs.

It is being said that the MLAs will be given notice for not attending the meeting of the second Congress legislative party meet.

21:37 July 14

BJP to hold a meeting tomorrow in Jaipur, over the current political situation in the state. The meeting to begin after the arrival of senior leader Vasundhara Raje. She is currently in Dholpur.

20:12 July 14

Wanted to draw high command's attention to broken manifesto promises, says sacked minister

Former Tourism Minister in Gehlot cabinet, Vishvendra Singh, who was dropped along with Sachin Pilot, said that he wanted to get high command's attention to promises in manifesto.

"What anti-party statement did we make? We only wanted to get high command's attention to promises in our manifesto as we haven't been able to deliver them in close to 2 years of being in power. For what fault was action taken?" he questioned. 

19:26 July 14

"My heartfelt thanks and gratitude to all those who have come out in my support today," Pilot tweeted indicating a move away from the Congress as both have ran out of roads in the state. 

18:13 July 14

“Prove majority in a floor test first and then go for a cabinet reshuffle. The result of the political fight is out,” Leader of Opposition Gulab Chand Kataria told ETV Bharat. 

Meanwhile, Deputy Leader of Opposition Rajendra Rathore claimed that Ashok Gehlot government will not be able to prove its majority in a floor test.

18:00 July 14

7-8 fresh faces to get portfolios in cabinet rejig: Sources

According to sources, 7-8 MLAs, who were not part of the cabinet earlier, will get the opportunity following the cabinet expansion planned by Ashok Gehlot, after the sacking of his deputy, Sachin Pilot and his loyalist ministers.

The State cabinet meeting will be held at the Chief Minister's residence at 7:30 pm today. The much-awaited meeting of the Council of Ministers will be held at 8:00 am.

17:10 July 14

16:59 July 14

Rajasthan NSUI president Abhimanyu Poonia resigns

NSUI state president Abhimanyu Poonia on Tuesday tendered his resignation after Sachin Pilot was sacked from the posts of Rajasthan's deputy chief minister and the party's state unit chief. 

He also claimed that about 400-500 post holders in the Youth Congress, NSUI and Seva Dal have resigned in protest against the latest development.

"I have resigned from the post in support of Sachin Pilot. They have also removed an elected Youth Congress president," Poonia said.

"We cannot work with such a chief minister who has worked to send heads of Jat and Bishnoi families to jail. Our honesty and conscience is still alive," he said on Twitter. 

16:39 July 14

BTP MLA alleges 'hostage-like situation'

Rajkumar Roat, BTP MLA from Chorasi constituency alleged hostage-like situation in the state following the political tussle between Ashok Gehlot and his former deputy Sachin Pilot.

"We’re almost being kept as hostages. It’s been three days since I’ve been at the MLA quarters, many people invited me to come with them. The police snatched away my car keys and are tailing him since I left my residence,” the MLA said in the video. 

16:30 July 14

After Pilot sacking, Cong leaders hail his contribution to party

After the removal of Sachin Pilot as Rajasthan's Deputy Chief Minister and state Congress chief, many party leaders sided with him, recalling his work to strengthen the party.

Former Union minister and senior Congress leader Jitin Prasada took to Twitter and wrote, "Sachin Pilot is not just a colleague but my friend. No one can take away the fact that all these years he has worked with dedication for the party. Sincerely hope the situation can still be salvaged. Sad it has come to this..."

Prasada and Pilot were ministers in the Congress-led UPA-2 government.

Party spokesperson Jaiveer Shergill also tweeted, "Unfortunate and sad turn of events." Meanwhile, former Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi urged Pilot not to be emotional and be patient. "My advice to Sachin Pilot is to be patient, not to be emotional. Having bright future your turn will come. I also had similar hurdles but ultimately patience helped. Better not to run after power which will come automatically. Ashok Gehlot may also give due recognition to Pilot," Gogoi said in a tweet.

16:26 July 14

Raj govt on autopilot as CM busy chasing Pilot: Union min Shekhawat

Taking a dig at the crisis-hit Ashok Gehlot-led government in Rajasthan, Union minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on Tuesday said that the dispensation is on autopilot as the chief minister is "busy chasing a Pilot".

Congress leader Sachin Pilot, who was sacked from the post of Rajasthan deputy chief minister and state Congress president-chief by the party, has rebelled against Gehlot along with MLAs loyal to him.

"Sad to see Rajasthan Govt on auto-pilot because the CM is busy chasing a Pilot," Union Jal Shakti minister Shekhawat tweeted.

16:26 July 14

BTP MLAs are being taken hostage, claims BJP

Bharatiya Tribal Party (BTP) has decided to abstain from voting if this comes to a floor test in the Rajasthan assembly. Now the opposition BJP claims that two BTP MLAs are being taken hostage by the ruling dispensation.

State Spokesperson of BJP, Laxmikant Bhardwaj said that Gehlot government is taking MLAs hostage and applying pressure from the ministerial levels.  

Earlier, the BTP has asked its MLAs neither to align with the Congress nor the BJP during the ongoing political crisis in the state. The Gehlot camp has considered BTP MLAs as supporters of the government. One of the BTP's MLAs has maintained that the support to the government will continue.

15:53 July 14

Former Rajasthan home minister and leader of the BJP legislature party Gulab Chand Kataria demands floor test in the assembly claiming Congress has lost the majority in the house.  

15:51 July 14

Pilot's nameplate removed from party headquarters

Sachin Pilot's nameplate has been removed from Congress headquarter in Jaipur after he was removed as Deputy CM and PCC Chief. Govind Singh Dotasra has been appointed as state unit chief.

The newly appointed PCC chief is likely to reach Congress headquarters this evening and preparations are in full swing to welcome Dotasra. Security has been tightened outside the office. Only a few workers are being given admission into the Congress headquarters. 

15:08 July 14

Congress high-command forced to take 'tough' decision, says Gehlot

Responding to the sacking of his deputy Sachin Pilot, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said that BJP was conspiring to topple the government for the past six months and the results are here.

He further said that a second legislative party meet was called for Pilot and his loyalists to sort out the issue. However, they refused to attend forcing the high command to take the 'tough' decision.

"Since a long time, BJP was conspiring and resorting to horse-trading. We knew it was a big conspiracy; now some of our friends went astray because of it and went to Delhi," Gehlot said. 

According to Gehlot, at least 10 MLAs who were in Delhi with Pilot were ready to come but were not allowed to come. "The party high command acted following the incident and were not carrying out orders after my complaint. There was no such demand for action against these MLAs during the CLP meeting. If he (Pilot) had " any issues he should have come to me to sort it out," Gehlot said.

14:55 July 14

Sachin Pilot removes mention of Congress party from his bio

Ex-Deputy CM Sachin Pilot removes mention of Indian National Congress from his Twitter Bio. This comes after the rebel leader was removed from the post of Deputy CM and PCC chief for trying to topple the state government as part of a BJP conspiracy. 

14:40 July 14

Rajasthan Governor Kalraj Mishra has accepted CM Ashok Gehlot's proposal to remove Sachin Pilot as Deputy CM, and Vishvender Singh and Ramesh Meena as ministers.

AICC spokesperson Randeep Surjewala had announced the decision after a Congress Legislature Party meeting held here amid a tussle for power between Pilot and Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot.

14:25 July 14

Rebel Congress leader Sachin Pilot tweets after being removed from Deputy CM post. " Truth can be rattled, not defeated," said Pilot. 

14:06 July 14

CM Ashok Gehlot meets Governor Kalraj Mishra, at Raj Bhawan in Jaipur.

13:45 July 14

• Govind Dotasara appointed as new Pradesh Congress Committee chief
• Ganesh Ghogra appointed as state youth Congress president
• Hem Singh Shekhawat appointed as president of State Congress Sewa Dal

13:39 July 14

Congress sacks Sachin Pilot from Rajasthan deputy CM post

The Congress on Tuesday sacked Sachin Pilot from the posts of Rajasthan's deputy chief minister and the party's state unit chief.

Cracking the whip on the rebel party leader, the party also removed his loyalists Vishvendra Singh and Ramesh Meena from the state cabinet.

AICC spokesperson Randeep Surjewala announced the decision after a Congress Legislature Party meeting held here amid a tussle for power between Pilot and Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot.

Surjewala said Education Minister Govind Singh Dotasara will be the new Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) chief.

Surjewala said Sachin Pilot enjoyed the affection and blessings of Congress president Sonia Gandhi and was given political power at a young age. Yet, he and other ministers were trying to topple the state government as part of a BJP conspiracy, he added.

13:34 July 14

Rajasthan BJP leaders discuss Congress crisis

Amid the ongoing political crisis in Rajasthan, opposition BJP leaders on Tuesday met in the state capital to discuss the current situation there.

A meeting has started at the BJP state office here in which party national joint general secretary V Satish, BJP state president Satish Poonia, leader of opposition Gulab Chand Kataria and deputy leader of opposition Rajendra Rathore are present.

"The leaders are discussing the current political situation in the state," the party sources said. 

The ruling Congress is facing a crisis after rebellion by Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot and dissident MLAs.

13:22 July 14

Pilot-loyalist MLAs demand floor test in Rajasthan Assembly

Amid the political crisis in Rajasthan, the demand for a floor test by the members of the Sachin Pilot camp has gained momentum, with state Food and Civil Supply Minister Ramesh Meena saying this will make it clear how many MLAs are with the Ashok Gehlot government.

Meena, a Pilot loyalist, is among the Congress legislators who skipped both the Congress legislature party meetings on Monday and Tuesday.

"Floor test should be conducted in the assembly. This will expose the claim that the Ashok Gehlot government has the support of 109 MLAs," Meena said on Tuesday.

He, however, refused to say anything further.

Congress MLA Deependra Singh Shekhawat too had raised the same demanded on Monday.

"We want a floor test at the earliest, which will make the situation crystal clear. We are with the Congress and Congress (state) president Sachin Pilot," Singh had told reporters yesterday.

The Ashok Gehlot camp has claimed that 109 MLAs, both of Congress and others, are in support of the government.

Another Congress MLA Murari Lal Meena, who is close to Sachin Pilot, alleged that Chief Minister Gehlot neglected party leaders and workers who worked hard for five years. 

In a tweet, he claimed that the communities in eastern Rajasthan which cast votes in favour of the Congress were being neglected and promises made in elections not fulfilled.

Improvement is necessary to saving the Congress. Otherwise the party will get only 11 seats in 2023 (assembly elections), Meena said.

12:44 July 14

Congress MLAs demand removal of Pilot from party, disciplinary action against rebels

104 MLAs present at the ongoing Congress Legislative Party (CLP) meeting at Fairmont Hotel in Jaipur unanimously demanded that Sachin Pilot should be removed from the party, reported sources.

They also passed a resolution for disciplinary action against the rebel MLAs including deputy CM Sachin Pilot.

Senior party leader K C Venugopal will be serving the MLAs with a notice on grounds of indiscipline.

11:57 July 14

Sachin Pilot skips second CLP meet

The second meeting of Congress Legislature Party in two days began at Fairmont Resort with no sign of Rajasthan's Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot making an appearance.

Ahead of the meeting, Congress general secretary Avinash Pande issued another appeal to Pilot, who had skipped the first CLP meeting at Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot's home on Monday.

Eighteen other Congress MLAs also did not attend Monday's meeting, according to sources. But independents and MLAs from other parties participated, expressing support for Gehlot.

Tuesday's meeting was said to be a second chance for Pilot, who is also the president of the state unit of the party.

But MLAs considered close to Pilot were again not seen there. Some of them have indicated that they would prefer a show of strength in the 200-member state assembly.

11:50 July 14

Second CLP meet underway

The second meeting of the Congress Legislature Party began at Fairmont resort in Jaipur, as the top leadership tries to woo back dissidents led by Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot.

The meeting was announced several hours after the first one ended Monday afternoon, skipped by Pilot and 18 other party MLAs, according to a party source.

The Congress had issued a whip, asking all 107 Congress MLAs to be present at Monday's meeting at the chief minister's home. In addition, 15 others independents and from allies -- were invited.

11:12 July 14

Sena targets BJP over political storm in Rajasthan

Attacking the BJP over the political crisis in Rajasthan, the Shiv Sena on Tuesday accused the NDA constituent of working to destabilise governments of its opponents and encouraging horse-trading inthe Congress-ruled state.

An editorial in Sena mouthpiece 'Saamana' asked the BJP what is it going to achieve with this political misadventure in the 'desert', and said such moves will turn the country's parliamentary democracy into a desert.

Rajasthan is home to Thar desert, which is also partly spread in states like Gujarat, Punjab and Haryana, it further read.

10:52 July 14

After Congress leader Sachin Pilot released a video of 16 party MLAs sitting together at a resort in Haryana, Ladnun MLA Mukesh Bhakar said that slavery in the name of loyalty is not acceptable to them

"...Loyalty in Congress means Ashok Gehlot's slavery. That is not acceptable to us," he wrote on his Twitter handle.

10:28 July 14

Sources reported that Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Ahmed Patel, P. Chidambaram and KC Venugopal have talked to Sachin Pilot several times, but there is less possibility of his attending the CLP meet today.

"Congress Legislative Party meeting is being conducted again & again to send messages to Sachin Pilot that still there's time for him to come. Party's top leadership still has flexibility for him. A decision will be taken after today's meeting over the further course of action," they said.

10:21 July 14

Rajasthan Congress in-charge appeals Pilot to attend crucial CLP meet

Amid the political crisis in Rajasthan, party state in-charge Avinash Pande on Tuesday once again urged Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot to attend the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting.

"I appeal to Sachin Pilot and all his fellow MLAs to attend today's meeting of the legislature party. Expressing your faith in the ideology and values of the Congress, please make your presence felt and strengthen the hands of Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi," Pande said in a tweet.

10:18 July 14

BJP's attempts at destabilising Gehlot govt won't be successful: Punia

Senior Congress leader PL Punia has said that the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) attempts at destabilising the Rajasthan government will not be successful, he claimed that the remaining MLAs who did not attend the Congress Legislature Party meeting held on Monday will also return to the party fold.  

"It is very clear that BJP is trying to destabilise the government in Rajasthan. Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has himself said that the BJP has crossed all the limits. 28 MLAs have given privilege motion against BJP due to their attempts. Congress's 107 MLAs were present and the rest of them will also come so the attempt at destabilising the government won't be successful. It has failed," said Punia.

09:45 July 14

Avinash Pande

We are giving second chance to Pilot: Avinash Pande

"We are giving a second chance to Sachin Pilot, asked him to attend today's CLP meet. I hope today all MLAs come & give solidarity to leadership and for which people of Rajasthan voted, we all want to work for the development of the state," said Rajasthan Congress in-charge Avinash Pande.

08:48 July 14

Pilot-led Cong camp releases video showing Pilot's MLAs strategising in Manesar

Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot-led Rajasthan Congress camp released a video showing at least 16 MLAs sitting together at ITC Grand Bharat resort situated in Haryana's Manesar.

This came hours after the Congress held a legislature party meeting. Party leaders said 106 of 122 MLAs attended, a claim contested by the Pilot camp.

In the video, at least 16 MLAs can be seen sitting together in a close circle. Pilot cannot be seen in the video. 

Some of the MLAs seen in the video are Indraraj Gurjar, Mukesh Bhakar, Harish Meena while six others could not be identified.

07:21 July 14

Rajasthan crisis: Gehlot cabinet discuss rejig while BJP await Vasundhara Raje's arrival

Jaipur: Congress MLAs were holed up at a resort near Jaipur, where a second legislature party meeting will be held Tuesday as the top leadership tries to woo back dissidents led by Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot.

Former party president Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi are among the senior leaders who have been in touch with Pilot, sources said.

The second meeting of the Congress Legislature Party was announced several hours after the first one ended Monday afternoon, skipped by Pilot and 18 other party MLAs, according to one party source.

The Congress had issued a whip, asking all 107 Congress MLAs to be present at Monday's meeting at the chief minister's home. In addition, 15 others independents and from allies -- were invited.

Read:Crisis averted for now, but how long will Sachin remain co-pilot?

Party leaders said 106 of these 122 MLAs attended, a claim contested by the Pilot camp.

The meeting expressed support for the Gehlot government, adopting a resolution urging strong disciplinary action against any party office-bearer or CLP member who does anything to weaken the government or the party.

But it stopped short of naming Pilot, who also heads the party's state unit.

Before the meeting, AICC spokesperson Randeep Surjewala also adopted a conciliatory tone, saying Pilot and other MLAs could still attend it.

Doors are open for Sachin Pilot and other MLAs. They will be heard and solutions found. This is the discipline of the party, he said.

Apart from Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi, Ahmed Patel, former Union finance minister P Chidambaram and AICC general secretary, K C Venugopal are learned to have spoken with Pilot.

As the CLP meeting ended, MLAs sat in waiting buses which took them to Fairmont hotel on the outskirts of Jaipur.

Hours later, Surjewala announced the CLP will meet again at 10 am on Tuesday at the hotel, a move seen as another attempt by the party to get the dissidents back into the fold.

We request Sachin Pilot and all other MLAs to come, he told reporters, adding that they will also be asked in writing.

"They are requested to come and discuss how we can strengthen Rajasthan together and serve the state's eight crore people, he said.

He said their problems will be solved. Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi are ready to listen to everyone and find solutions."

Read:BJP's conspiracy can't topple Congress govt in Rajasthan: Surjewala

Pilot has been upset since he was denied the Rajasthan chief minister's post after the December 2018 assembly elections.

On Sunday, he claimed to have the backing of 30 Congress MLAs and some independents.

Those close to him disputed Gehlot's claim that his government had a majority and said this is proven in the assembly and not at the CM's house.

They also ruled out the possibility of Pilot joining the BJP.

Asked if the Pilot group was thinking of forming a new party, MLA Deepender Singh Shekhawat said, As of now, we have not thought of anything but we will not go with the BJP. We are just talking about a leadership change."

Ladnun MLA Mukesh Bhakar tweeted, Loyalty in the Congress means Ashok Gehlot's slavery. That is not acceptable to us."

Among those who did not show up for the meeting at CM's house was Tourism Minister Vishvendra Singh. He posted a collage of four photos on his Twitter handle, showing Pilot taking part in protests when he was in the opposition.

With an ailing family member in Delhi, Singh tweeted before the meeting.

Just hours before the meeting, Income Tax officials searched premises in Jaipur said to be linked to local party leaders Rajiv Arora and Dharmendra Rathore, an action criticised by the Congress.

Read:Amid Rajasthan crisis, ED, IT raids on people close to Gehlot

The CLP resolution blamed the BJP for the crisis. On Saturday, Gehlot had accused the opposition party of trying to lure away Congress MLAs.

Asked about speculation that the BJP may support the Pilot camp from outside, party's state president Satish Poonia said all options are open.

He said young leaders in the Congress are always 'neglected and sidelined'.

In the 200-member assembly, the Congress has 107 MLAs and the BJP 72. In the past, the ruling party has claimed the support of 13 independents, two MLAs each from the CPM and the Bhartiya Tribal Party (BTP), and one from the Rashtriya Lok Dal.

Late at night, there were indications that the allies might distance themselves from the factional fight in Rajasthan Congress.

The Congress had rushed AICC general secretary Avinash Pande, Ajay Maken and Surjewala to Jaipur as observers at the meeting, amid the power tussle between its two Rajasthan leaders.

The party had issued a whip ahead of the CLP meeting, indicating disciplinary action against any MLA who failed to turn up.

Pilot, however, had made clear in a statement on Sunday night that he would not attend the meeting.

Read:Rajasthan politics: Pilot-led Congress camp releases video of 16 MLAs sitting together

The current crisis began Friday when the Rajasthan Police sent a notice to Pilot, asking him to record his statement over an alleged attempt 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.

Inputs from agencies