Rajasthan Live: After Report To Sonia, 3 Gehlot Aides Get Show Cause Notice
The one-person one-position rule might push CM Ashok Gehlot to step down from his position.
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Rajasthan Political Crisis LIVE Updates, Sachin Pilot vs Ashok Gehlot: As the political crisis in Rajasthan unfolds, the Congress party has issued a show cause notice to three Ashok Gehlot loyalists – Shanti Dhariwal, Dharmendra Rathod and Mahesh Joshi for what it calls "an act of grave indiscipline" and has sought a response within 10 days.
Earlier, All India Congress Committee (AICC) observers Ajay Maken and Mallikarjun Kharge submitted their report on the situation in the state to Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi, on Tuesday, 27 September, recommending that no action be taken against Gehlot.
The same report, put the blame on the Rajasthan CM's close lieutenants who didn't turn up for the meeting and allegedly forced others to sign resignations.
On Sunday, 25 September, over 90 Congress MLAs had submitted their resignation to Assembly Speaker CP Joshi in protest against the likely decision to make Sachin Pilot the state's chief minister if Ashok Gehlot were to resign from the post to fight the Congress presidential election.
Video Producer/Editor: Shohini Bose
Rajasthan MLAs attended a special meeting at Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot's residence in Jaipur on 27 September
Earlier on the same day, Congress leader Sachin Pilot had reached Delhi
The resignation by the MLAs brings down the strength of the Rajasthan Assembly to 108, where the halfway mark will be at 55. The BJP has 70 MLAs in the House
AICC observers had held a meeting with Congress chief Sonia Gandhi on Monday to apprise her of the unfolding crisis
Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot may drop out of the Congress presidential race
Taking a dig, the BJP said that "none of the Congress leaders want to be party's national president, they prefer to be CM"
Several ministers, including Rural Development Minister Rajendra Singh Gudha and MLA Wajib Ali, have backed Sachin Pilot as the next CM if Gehlot steps down
Show Cause Notice Issued To Dhariwal, Rathod & Joshi
The party has now served a show cause notice to Shanti Dhariwal, Dharmendra Rathod and Mahesh Joshi for what it calls "an act of grave indiscipline" and has sought a response within 10 days.
No Action Recommended Against CM Gehlot
Meanwhile, sources told The Quint that no action has been recommended against Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot by the observers.
However, action can be taken against Shanti Dhariwal, Dharmendra Rathod and Mahesh Joshi. These three may get show cause notices, the sources said.
They further added that the blame has been put on MLAs who didn't turn up for the meeting and allegedly forced others to sign resignations.
Kharge, Maken Submit Report to Sonia Gandhi
AICC observers Mallikarjun Kharge and Ajay Maken have submitted their report about the ongoing political crisis in Rajasthan to interim Congress president Sonia Gandhi.
Rajasthan Ministers Meet at Gehlot's Residence
A special meeting of Ministers is being held at Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot's residence in Jaipur.
Pawan Kumar Bansal Refutes Running for Party President
Congress leader Pawan Kumar Bansal denies rumours of him joining the Congress party presidential race, say reports.
Ambika Soni Denies Candidature for Party President
Congress leader Ambika Soni on Tuesday, denied that she will file a nomination for the post of Congress President.
Sachin Pilot Reaches Delhi
Caught in the midst of a political storm, congress leader Sachin Pilot has reached Delhi.
'False News': Sachin Pilot On Conversations with Cong High Command
Reacting to reports that he told the Congress high command that Gehlot should not remain CM if he becomes the Congress chief, Sachin Pilot said, "This is false news being reported."
He also denied reports that he was in constant touch with MLAs apart from his supporters.
Pilot Supporters Arrive at His Residence To Hold Discussions
Congress MLAs supporting Sachin Pilot for the CM's post arrived at his residence in Jaipur to hold discussions.
"The party's top leadership is restructuring the organisation for the 2023 (state) elections here. The top leadership will decide on the CM face," MLA Khiladi Lal Bairwa was quoted as saying by ANI.
Pilot Told Cong Leadership that Gehlot Should Not Remain CM If He Contests Prez Polls: Report
Sachin Pilot is said to have told the Congress high command that Ashok Gehlot should not remain the CM of Rajasthan if he decides to contest the party presidential election, and that it is his responsibility to discipline MLAs, ANI reported.
Sachin Pilot in Constant Touch with MLAs: Report
Congress leader Sachin Pilot is reportedly in constant touch with several MLAs, including those who are not his supporters, ANI reported, quoting sources.
He has also asked his supporters to be patient amid the ongoing crisis.
'Observers Should've Waited for a While': Gehlot Loyalist
Gehlot loyalist PS Khachariyawas said that AICC observers Ajay Maken and Mallikarjun Kharge should not have gotten "upset this early" and should have "waited for a while."
"If a senior leader like (Shanti) Dhariwal has raised issues then the party should pay heed to them," he added, as per ANI.
'Action Should've Been Taken Against Those Who Rebelled 2 Years Ago': Gehlot Loyalist
Gehlot loyalist and Rajasthan minister PS Khachariyawas said that disciplinary action should have been taken against supporters of Sachin Pilot who rebelled against the Ashok Gehlot government two years ago.
"Disciplinary action should've been taken against those who went to Manesar (in 2020). MLAs ready to abide by Sonia Gandhi's decision. PM or CM chair can't be captured by creating perception through Delhi media, struggle has to be done for it," he said, as per ANI.
'Conspiracy To Remove Ashok Gehlot': Shanti Dhariwal
Rajasthan minister and Gehlot loyalist Shanti Dhariwal said that the political turmoil was a "conspiracy" to remove Gehlot as the chief minister.
"It was 100 percent a conspiracy to remove the CM (Ashok Gehlot) and general secretary incharge was a part of it. I am not talking about anyone else, no charge on Kharge but only the General Secretary incharge," Dhariwal said, as per ANI.
'No Interest In Party President's Post' Kamal Nath
Madhya Pradesh Congress chief Kamal Nath, who was summoned by the party in Delhi on Monday, said that he has no interest in the party president's post.
"I have no interest in Congress president's post. I am only here for Navratri wishes," Nath said.
Some reports suggested that he had arrived in Delhi to mediate the Rajasthan Congress crisis.
'Crisis To Be Resolved Soon': Chhattisgarh CM
Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel said that he believed that the crisis in Rajasthan would be resolved soon.
"I do not have much idea about the happenings in Rajasthan. I believe the problem will be solved very soon," Baghel said as per ANI.
AICC Observers To Submit Report to Sonia Gandhi Today
As the political crisis in Rajasthan unfolds, All India Congress Committee (AICC) observers Ajay Maken and Mallikarjun Kharge are scheduled to submit a written report to Congress chief Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday, 27 September.
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Published: 27 Sep 2022,07:53 AM IST