Sachin Pilot claims not joining BJP as Speaker takes up Cong disqualification notice

Sachin Pilot has claimed he is not joining the BJP, a day after he was removed as deputy chief minister and the party's state unit president. by the Congress on charges of "colluding" with the saffron party.

"I am not joining the BJP," Sachin Pilot told news agencies on Wednesday, as disqualification notices were issued by Rajasthan Assembly Speaker C P Joshi to Pilot and other Congress MLAs who rebelled against the state leadership. Incidentally, any public statement by Pilot against Congress now could strengthen the case against him for disqualification, as per rules. The dissident leader also put off his plan to address a press conference.

Pilot also claimed that it was some leaders in Rajasthan who were trying to spread the impression that he was joining the rival party.


TV channels quoted him as saying he remained with the Congress and that he had worked hard to defeat the saffron party and bring the Congress back to power in Rajasthan.

A day earlier, Pilot was sacked from his two posts by the party alleging he was "swayed by BJP’s plot and was conspiring to topple the Congress government elected by eight crore Rajasthanis".

After he openly rebelled against Ashok Gehlot, Pilot and 17 ruling MLAs stayed away from two meetings called by the party this week to show trust in the chief minister.

Disqualification notices were issued by Assembly Speaker C P Joshi to Pilot and other MLAs who did not attend the Congress Legislature Party meeting held on Monday and Tuesday.

The notice gives Pilot and his followers time till Friday to explain why he should not be disqualified as a member of the legislative assembly