A day after Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot showed his strength by organising a Congress Legislature Party meet at his residence in Jaipur, the party removed rebel leader Sachin Pilot from the State Cabinet as well as from the Pradesh Congress Committee president post.
All eyes are on Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot now.
Here are the latest updates:
4.00 pm
Police force across Rajasthan alerted to ensure peace, maintain law and order
Police personnel across the Rajasthan have been alerted to maintain peace in their jurisdiction amid the political crisis in the state, an official said.
Following intelligence inputs and political happenings, police force across the state has been alerted to ensure peace and maintain law and order situation,” ADG (Law and Order) Saurabh Srivastava said.
He said that police force has been asked to keep a vigil so that common people do not have to suffer. – PTI
3.40 pm
No one can take away the fact that Sachin worked with dedication for Congress: Jitin Prasada
No one can take away the fact that Sachin Pilot has long worked with dedication for the Congress, party leader Jitin Prasada said.
Mr. Prasada, considered a leader of the party’s ‘young brigade’, also expressed the hope that the situation can be salvaged.
“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,” Mr. Prasada tweeted adding that “Sincerely hope the situation can still be salvaged. Sad it has come to this.”
3.30 pm
Pilot playing into the hands of BJP: Gehlot
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot addressing the CLP meeting.
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot accused rebel leader Sachin Pilot of playing into the hands of the BJP.
He alleged that that the BJP wanted to repeat what it had done in Madhya Pradesh. But the BJP’s intentions will not fructify in Rajasthan, Mr. Gehlot said.
The chief minister said that Mr. Pilot and other ministers as well as MLAs were given ample opportunities but they did not attend the Congress Legislature Party meeting on Monday and Tuesday.
“There is nothing in the hands of Sachin Pilot. He is playing into the hands of the BJP which is making all the arrangements, he told reporters after meeting Governor Kalraj Mishra.
Mr. Gehlot met the Governor immediately after the Congress Legislature Party meeting where the decision to remove the three ministers was taken.
3.00 pm
Truth can be rattled, not defeated: Pilot
Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot.
Soon after his removal as Rajasthan deputy chief minister, rebel Congress leader Sachin Pilot said “truth can be rattled, not defeated“.
“Truth can be rattled, not defeated,” he said in a tweet in Hindi.
He also changed his profile on Twitter deleting all references to his position as deputy CM and Rajasthan Congress chief.
He only described himself as MLA of Tonk and a former Minister of IT, Telecom & Corporate affairs, Government of India.
1.40 pm
Sachin Pilot sacked
Randeep Surjewala announcing the decision to remove Sachin Pilot from party and CAbinet posts, in Jaipur.
| Photo Credit: Rohit Jain Paras
Rebel leader Sachin Pilot has been removed from the State Cabinet as well as Pradesh Congress Committee president post. The decision was taken in the CLP meet.
Two Cabinet Ministers, Vishvendra Singh and Ramesh Meena, were also dropped from the Rajasthan Cabinet.
The announcement was made by Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala in Jaipur after the CLP meeting.
Minister of State for Education Govind Singh Dotasra will be the new Rajasthan PCC president, Mr. Surjewala said.
Mr. Surjewala said Mr. 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.
– Mohammad Iqbal
1.40 pm
Rajasthan BJP leaders discuss Congress crisis
Amid the ongoing political crisis in Rajasthan, opposition BJP leaders met to discuss the current situation in the state.
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. – PTI
1.25 pm
There Congress leaders from the Pilot camp released a statement saying they stand by “their leader”.
State Ministers Vishvender Singh and Ramesh Meena, and former Speaker Deepender Shekhawat said Mr. Pilot was “publicly humiliated”.
Here is the full text of their statement
We have for years worked with dedication, devotion and service towards the party. And we are ta