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    Sachin Pilot sacked as Dy CM and state party chief, Congress says he colluded with BJP

    Synopsis

    "It is unfortunate Sachin Pilot has been in collusion with the BJP government to topple a democratically elected government in Rajasthan", AICC spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said before the leadership's decision to sack him was announced at Jaipur.

    Sachin Pilot sacked from Deputy CM and Rajasthan Congress president post: Surjewala
    The Congress leadership on Tuesday sacked rebel leader Sachin Pilot both as PCC president and Deputy Chief Minister accusing him of colluding with the rival BJP.

    "It is unfortunate Sachin Pilot has been in collusion with the BJP government to topple a democratically elected government in Rajasthan", AICC spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said before the leadership's decision to sack him was announced at Jaipur.

    Pilot's immediate response to his removal was a cryptic tweet which said, " truth can be tormented , but cannot be defeated."

    Two state ministers in the rebel camp, Vishvender Singh and Ramesh Meena, too have been stripped of their ministership. More actions, including disqualification from Assembly suspension or expulsion will soon follow for some among the dozen or so party rebels while Gehlot is engaged in efforts to woo the others back.

    CM Gehlot later went and met Governor Kalraj Mishra , who formally accepted his recommendation removing Pilot and the two other ministers from the cabinet.

    The CM told reporters that Pilot had broken many rules and court orders on the conduct of elected representatives, and that he was a "fit case for disqualification".

    The Congress has appointed Govind Singh Dostara, who is the state education minister and an MLA from Laxmangarh, as the new PCC chief.

    The decision by the party came hours after Pilot skipped the second meeting of Congress MLAs and supporting legislators in Jaipur, prompting the party in the state to move a resolution seeking action against him and other members of the rebel camp.

    Pilot and another 16 MLAs kept away from the second meeting held at a city resort on Tuesday morning - they had skipped the first meeting on Monday as well - showing he had not budged despite attempts by the party to lure him back with offers.

    The Congress leadership and MLAs also passed a resolution once again reposing faith in Gehlot's leadership., thus rejecting the Pilot camp's demand for a change of leadership in the state.

    At these meetings, Gehlot produced 107 of the 122 Congress and supporting MLAs to “prove his majority”, while 13 Congress MLAs, including Pilot and two ministers, and four Independents stayed away.

    Pilot and his supporters claimed to have the backing of 30 Congress MLAs and some Independents, but this was never proved during the show of strength.

    Though the Gehlot government as of now has a majority, it has to work to ensure the BJP, which is backing Pilot camp, will not typically work to further take away supporting MLAs, even as it tries to increase its number base.

    Congress leaders think that at the moment the BJP would be controlling more rebels than Pilot, as he himself will be dependent on the saffron party.


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