‘Come Out of BJP’s Cover Then’: Cong After Pilot Rules Out Switch

Congress has asked Pilot to come back to his “home” and not be in BJP’s “security cover” in Haryana.

A day after he was sacked from the posts of Rajasthan deputy chief minister and Congress state chief, Sachin Pilot on Wednesday, 15 July, while giving rest to heavy speculations, told several media outlets that he's not joining the BJP.

In a quick response to Pilot's statements, Congress asked him to come back to his "home" and not be in BJP's "security cover" in Haryana.

“We’ve seen Sachin Pilot’s statement that he won’t join BJP. I’d like to tell him that if you don’t want that, then immediately come out of the security cover of BJP’s Haryana government, stop all conversations with them and come back to your home in Jaipur.”

Randeep S Surjewala, Congress spokesperson, as quoted by ANI

Surjewala's comment comes at the backdrop of news reports suggesting that Pilot, along with MLAs who are supporting his side are lodged in a resort in Manesar.

Earlier, Chief Minister of the state, Ashok Gehlot, had blamed BJP for "arranging the resort" and fueling the crisis.

Catch all the updates on the Rajasthan political crisis here.

What Pilot Said on Joining BJP?

The 42-year-old MLA from Tonk told news agency PTI, “Some leaders in Rajasthan are trying to fuel speculation that I am joining the BJP, but I am not doing so... I have worked very hard to bring the Congress back in government in Rajasthan.”

In another interview to NDTV, he said, "Attempts to link me to the BJP are to malign me in the eyes of the Congress high command," adding that he is still a member of the Congress.

The crisis in the state came to a head after Pilot was reportedly upset over receiving a notice for questioning by the Special Operations Group to investigate attempts at destabilising the government.

The Congress had earlier commanded 107 seats in the 200-member Rajasthan Assembly, along with support from some Independents and other parties’ MLAs. But, with Pilot's revolt, that number has come down precariously close to the majority mark of 101.

This has come just four months after the collapse of the Congress government in Madhya Pradesh, precipitated by the exit of Jyotiraditya Scindia and his loyalists from the party.