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.