Rajasthan crisis: Congress MLAs end five-hour dharna at Raj Bhawan

The Rajasthan High Court is scheduled to deliver a verdict on the plea of dissident Congress leader Sachin Pilot and 18 supporting MLAs who have challenged the disqualification notice served against them by the assembly Speaker.

Image courtesy: ANI

The Rajasthan High Court ordered maintaining status quo on disqualification notices issued by the assembly speaker to 19 dissident Congress MLAs, including Sachin Pilot. The notices were served by the assembly speaker to the MLAs on July 14 after the party complained to him that the legislators had defied a whip to attend two Congress Legislature Party meetings last week.

The High Court also accepted a plea to make the Centre a party to the case.

Pilot and 18 rebel party MLAs had challenged a disqualification notice served to them by Assembly Speaker CP Joshi in a petition filed in the Rajasthan High Court. The notice was given on the request of Congress’ chief whip who said Pilot and his supporters did not attend the party’s CLP meetings. In the last hearing, the High Court had asked the Speaker to wait for its verdict on the matter before taking any action against the MLAs on the July 14 disqualification notice.

Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot accused Governor Kalraj Mishra of being under pressure not to call a state assembly session. Gehlot said the state government requested the Governor to call an assembly session but he has not yet issued the order.

The CM said that all Congress legislators in his support are going to the Raj Bhawan to make a collective request to call the session.

Thank you for joining us at Zee News for updates related to the Rajasthan political crisis.

24 July 2020

22:03 IST

Rajasthan Governor Kalraj Mishra writes to CM Ashok Gehlot stating, 'Before I could discuss the matter with experts regarding Assembly session, you have publically said that if Raj Bhawan is 'gheraoed' then it is not your responsibility. If you & your Home Ministry can't protect Guv then what about law & order in State? 

21:30 IST

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has decided to hold cabinet meeting today at 9:30 pm at his residence in Jaipur. The CM is expected to will discuss fresh proposal letter for assembly session to Governor. The Congress, however, will hold demonstrations in all district headquarters in the state on Saturday against the BJP's "conspiracy" to bring down the Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot-led government, the party said.