Earlier, Governor Kalraj Mishra had said that the Assembly would not be allowed to be convened in Rajasthan in the face of the COVID-19 threat. Last week, the MLAs along with Ashok Gehlot gathered at the governor’s residence but he was not ready to change his stand. The Congress had alleged that the BJP was playing political drama with the support of the governor. Finally, on July 27 the governor changed his mind. Permission was granted on the condition that the assembly could be convened only if the government gave 21 days’ notice.

It was at this juncture that Assembly Speaker C.P. Joshi withdrew his petition in the Supreme Court against the High Court’s move against the dissident MLAs. The speaker, who was steadfast on his stand that he would disqualify dissident MLAs, was seen withdrawing from legal action for the time being.

Weeks after the start of Sachin Pilot’s revolt against Ashok Gehlot, there is no sign of an immediate end to the drama, let alone new dramatic developments unfolding from day to day. Even though the Congress has so far rejected the legal move in the Supreme Court, they are facing another legal battle. The BJP has filed a petition in the Rajasthan High Court against the merger of six BSP MLAs in the Congress 10 months ago.

The political drama has been further complicated by the fact that the BSP leadership has given a whip to its six MLAs asking them to vote against the government if there is a no-confidence motion in the Assembly. Gehlot claims the support of 103 MLAs, including the six BSP MLAs. Without their support, the government is sure to fall.

There is now complete uncertainty as to whether the Congress-led government, which came to power with sufficient popular support, will be able to stay in power in Rajasthan. The governor, who had secretly vowed to give Gehlot a chance to prove his majority, has now unexpectedly changed his mind. The Congress will have to work doubly hard to secure a vote in favour of Gehlot in the Assembly.

The Congress must drudge to overcome the BJP’s tactics of seizing power even if it does not win elections. With its money power, the BJP is the strongest force in the post-election horse-trading.

With the BJP’s insurmountable party machine and the immense ‘money’ it possesses, J.P. Nadda does the magic of a footballer who scores goals even in the most impossible situations with Amit Shah in the shadows. It remains to be seen whether this footwork will be repeated in Rajasthan.

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The order came after the team Sachin filed a writ petition challenging the disqualification notices. The matter was taken up by the bench on July 17. The team argued that the party whip applies only when the assembly is in seat.

The Supreme Court today rejected the request of Rajasthan Assembly Speaker CP Joshi to defer the disqualification proceedings till July 24. The supreme court further said that the “voice of dissent” in a democracy cannot be suppressed.

The bench, comprising Justices BR Gavai and Krishna Murari, said Joshi’s plea raises important questions and requires prolonged hearing. “We are not restraining the High Court from passing the order but it will be subject to the outcome of the petition (of Speaker) before the Supreme Court,” the bench said. The next hearing will be on July 27.

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“Rajasthan is the only state where no demand was raised to change the PCC president in seven years. We knew that nothing is happening here. We knew he is “nikamma” (worthless) and “nakara” (idle), still we did not question this in the interest of the party,” said Gehlot

He said no demand was ever put forth to change the PCC president, a post which Pilot held for the last seven years in Rajasthan.

He said Sachin plotted with BJP government to topple the Congress government in Rajasthan. Gehlot added that nobody ever thought a person of his stature will do such thing.

“He (Sachin Pilot) was conspiring from past six months with BJP’s support. Nobody believed me when I used to say that conspiracy is going on to topple government. Nobody knew that a person with such innocent face will do such thing. I’m not here to sell vegetables, I am CM,” said Gehlot.

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Dousing the rumours about joining Bharatiya Janata Party(BJP), Sachin Pilot clarified again that he won’t be joining BJP. “Some leaders in Rajasthan are trying to fuel speculation that I am joining BJP ,but I am not doing so. I have worked very hard to bring Congress back in government in Rajasthan. I will not join BJP,” he said to the media.

The statement came hours after BJP leader Gajendra Singh Shekhawat told reporters that his party’s doors are open to anyone who express trust in its ideology.

The current crisis began on July 10 when Rajasthan police sent a notice to Mr Pilot, asking him to record his statement over an alleged attempt to bring down the government. Pilot supporters claimed that it was only meant to humiliate him.

Pilot and his supporters threatened to leave the party and for his actions he was removed from the posts of Deputy Chief Minister and as Congress Committee president.

Meanwhile, Congress on July 14 suspended Sanjay Jha from the party for defending Sachin Pilot. He appeared on one of the television channels and criticised Congress. After Pilot was removed as deputy CM and as state president, Jha tweeted , “For five years, Sachin Pilot gave his blood , tears and toil and sweat for Congress between 2013-18. Congress came back from a wretched 21 seats to 100. We just gave him a performance bonus. We are so meritocratic. We are so transparent.

For five years Sachin Pilot gave his blood , tears, toil and sweat for the Congress party between 2013-18. The Congress came back from a wretched 21 seats to 100.

We just gave him a performance bonus. We are so meritocratic. We are so transparent.

— Sanjay Jha (@JhaSanjay) July 14, 2020

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