Rajasthan politics: Sachin Pilot needs support of more MLAs but time running out

New Delhi: Congress rebels have moved the Rajasthan high court to buy time before they are disqualified. The calculation of the Sachin Pilot-led camp is to get the HC to ask Rajasthan assembly Speaker CP Joshi to give the rebels more time to appear before him to explain why they should not be disqualified. In the event of managing more time, the rebel camp would still need to secure the support of more MLAs to reduce the Gehlot government to minority and approach the governor.

Speaker Joshi had asked the 19 rebel MLAs to appear before him till Friday on a Congress request for their disqualification under the anti-defection law. If the rebel MLAs do not reply within the stipulated time, or even if they do and the Speaker is not satisfied with their explanation, they will lose membership of the House. That would reduce the strength of the House and make it easier for Gehlot to survive.

Apart from losing assembly membership, what is at stake is Pilot’s prestige to prove that he is a force to reckon with in Rajasthan politics. The HC hearing will see the Modi-led government’s legal advisor Harish Salve crossing swords with Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi.


On Wednesday, Pilot took a defensive approach after the party removed him from deputy CM’s and PCC chief’s post and he and the other 18 rebels claimed that they were still part of the Congress. However, throughout the day, Pilot was exploring legal recourse to deal with the Speaker’s notice. He is hopeful of getting time from the court and winning over a few more MLAs. Congress has 107 MLAs in Rajasthan and support of 18 Independents and smaller parties. It still claims support of 109 MLAs in the 200 member House.