Rajasthan Politics LIVE: MLAs voiced their displeasure over return of rebels at party meeting

03:45 August 12

Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting in Jaisalmer

MLAs voiced their displeasure over return of rebels at party meeting

Jaisalmer: At a Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting in Jaisalmer, a section of leaders aired their opposition to the move. Gehlot and senior MLAs had to pacify them.

This is the first CLP meeting since a chance of reconciliation between Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and his former deputy Sachin Pilot has risen following the latter's meeting with prominent leaders from the central leadership.  

The reconciliation has come right ahead of the commencement of the session of the Rajasthan Assembly on August 14.  

As the political uncertainty appeared to have ended in the state, former deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot, whose rebellion posed a threat to the state government’s stability, returned to Jaipur after a month and stressed that there should be no place for vendetta politics.

22:16 August 11

21:21 August 11

CLP meeting underway at Suryagarh hotel in Jaisalmer

Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting underway at Suryagarh hotel in Jaisalmer

18:51 August 11

My fight was ideological and not personal, says Pilot

Congress leader Sachin Pilot returned to Jaipur on Tuesday, nearly a month after he rebelled against Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot.

While addressing a press conference in the state capital, Pilot said, "I wanted our self-respect to remain intact. I have given 20 years to the party now. We have always attempted to ensure the participation of people who worked hard to form the government."

He said that he was not hankering for any post as the party has the sole right to give and take away a post. Pilot also stressed that his fight was ideological and not personal.

A large number of his supporters gathered outside his residence to welcome him as he drove down to Jaipur from New Delhi in his car.

18:21 August 11

Supporters of Sachin Pilot welcomes after he returns to Rajasthan

The supporters of rebel Congress leader Sachin Pilot raised slogans and welcomed him, as he returns to Rajasthan after meeting Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. He arrived in state capital Jaipur when Ashok Gehlot was around 600 KM away, in Jaisalmer.

16:46 August 11

Rajasthan HC adjourns petition against merger of 6 BSP MLAs with Congress to August 13th

Rajasthan High Court on Tuesday adjourned the petition against the merger of six BSP MLAs with the Congress to August 13th.

15:57 August 11

Mayawati raises doubts over Pilot-Gehlot patch-up

Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati on Tuesday said that it appears that the Congress government in Rajasthan is safe but said there is a possibility that drama may again erupt between former Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot and Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot. 

"It seems that the Congress government in Rajasthan is safe now but it can not be said that when will the drama between Mr Pilot and Mr Gehlot begin again. BSP wants to say that the long due internal conflict between these two has affected works of public welfare in the state," Mayawati said while addressing a press briefing in New Delhi.

14:16 August 11

Three independent MLAs meet Rajasthan Chief Minister

Three independent MLAs Om Prakash Hudla, Suresh Tank and Khushveer Singh met Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot at his residence in Jaipur on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot reiterated that his government will complete its full term and Congress party will win the next Assembly elections as well.

The development comes as the Rajasthan Assembly session is scheduled to begin from August 14.

In the 200 members assembly, Congress has 107 MLAs. BJP has 72 MLAs. There are 3 Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP) MLAs. There are 2 BTP, 2 CPI(M) and 1 RLD legislators also in the House. There are 13 independent MLAs in Rajasthan Assembly.

14:13 August 11

Rajasthan BJP postpones legislature party meeting

Amid the political developments in Rajasthan, the state BJP unit on Tuesday postponed its legislature party meeting planned for the day. 

The BJP asked its legislators to come to its Jaipur party headquarters on Thursday instead.

The party had convened the meeting in the view of Assembly session set to begin on August 14. It was to be held at a hotel here in the evening.

Leader of Opposition Gulab Chand Kataria issued a statement, saying the programme of the BJP legislature party meeting has been amended, and party MLAs have now been asked to reach the party office on August 13 at 11 am.

12:37 August 11

Will try to win hearts of rebel MLAs: Raj CM

After the resolution of the crisis arising out of rebellion by Congress MLAs owing allegiance to Sachin Pilot, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Tuesday said that he would try to know their grievances and then try to win them over.

Gehlot was speaking to the media before leaving for Jaisalmer, where MLAs from his camp are staying, to chair a Congress Legislature Party meeting.

"As the Chief Minister, it is my responsibility to win the hearts of my MLAs if they have any cause to be annoyed with me. We will try to figure out what all promises were made to them and why they have grudges," he said.
 

12:36 August 11

Will address grievances of MLAs, says Raj CM

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Tuesday said it was his responsibility to address the grievances of MLAs. 

But why did the MLAs go and what promises were made to them, only they know it, Gehlot said. 

"If any MLA is annoyed with me, then it is my responsibility to address that. I have kept doing this in the past and will do this now also," Gehlot told reporters before leaving for Jaisalmer. 

Gehlot's announcement comes after rebel Congress leader Sachin Pilot's meeting with Rahul Gandhi on Monday night that signalled an "amicable resolution" of nearly a month-long political crisis in the state.

12:08 August 11

Priyanka, Rahul Gandhi assured to solve our grievances: Sachin Pilot

"I imbibed certain values from my family, no matter how much I oppose anyone, I have never used such language. Ashok Gehlot ji is elder to me and I respect him personally but I have the right to raise work-related concerns," said Sachin Pilot on Gehlot's 'nikamma' remark against him.

"In our meeting, Priyanka ji and Rahul ji heard our grievances patiently and assured that a road map will be chalked out to solve them. I harbour no wish to have a post, these things come and go. We need to work in the direction of strengthening the public's confidence and trust in us," he further said. 

11:09 August 11

3-member committee has been formed to resolve grievances: Rajasthan CM

New Delhi:Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Tuesday slammed the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) for 'trying its best to topple the government' and asserted that his government is stable and will complete the full term.

Speaking to media, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said: "Peace and brotherhood will remain in our party. A 3-member committee has been formed (by Congress) to resolve the grievances. BJP tried its best to topple the govt, but in the end, all our party MLAs are together, not even one has left us."

"Income Tax and CBI are being misused and politics is being done in the name of religion. But our govt will complete its full term of 5 years and we will win the next elections as well," he further added.

"We have managed to keep one of our own, Sachin Pilot, with us," Congress leader Jitin Prasada said on Monday, hailing Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra for it.

Prasada's remarks came after Pilot met party leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi here, amidst indications of a possible breakthrough in the Pilot-Gehlot government standoff.

"Today because of the leadership of Rahul Gandhi and the efforts of Priyanka Gandhi we have managed to keep one of our own, Sachin Pilot, with us," Prasada said in a tweet.

"This is the democratic spirit of our party @INCIndia where there is room for dissent and debate," said Prasada, who is considered a leader of the party's young brigade.

After his meeting with Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi, the party said Pilot will "work in the interest" of the Congress and its government in Rajasthan. 

Following this meeting, Congress president Sonia Gandhi decided that the AICC will constitute a three-member committee to address the issues raised by Pilot and an aggrieved MLA and arrive at an appropriate resolution thereof.

After Pilot was sacked as Rajasthan deputy chief minister and the Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee chief, Prasada had said no one can take away the fact that Pilot has long worked with dedication for the Congress.

Prasada, 46, and Pilot, 42, were said to be part of the Congress young brigade along with Milind Deora and Jyotiraditya Scindia. 

Scindia left the Congress to join the BJP earlier this year. 

(with inputs from agencies)