Rajasthan Speaker issues anti-defection notice to Pilot, 18 other MLAs

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Jaipur: Rajasthan Assembly Speaker issued notices on Wednesday to 19 MLAs who were absent in Legislature party meetings held on Monday and Tuesday. Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot complained to the Assembly Speaker on Wednesday to take actions against Sachin Pilot and his supporting MLAs, who were the violating the party Whip and disqualify them from the Assembly.

The MLAs are accused of conspiring to topple the State Government led Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot in Connivance with BJP. The notices that were issued on Wednesday have to be replied to by July 17th and are likely to set the stage for a politico-legal battle as the rebels are bound to approach Courts in the event the Speaker finally decides to disqualify them and they lose their membership of the Assembly.

Assembly Speaker Mahesh Joshi sought action in accordance with the tenth schedule of the constitution and Rajasthan Legislative Assembly members (disqualification for defection) Act 1989. The notices which have seen legal eagle and Rajya Sabha MP Abhisekh Singhvi being consulted were to go out on Tuesday but Congress held back its complaint. The path ahead however may not be entirely predictable. Though the Speaker has wide powers to interpret-antiparty activities to conclude certain actions amount to rebellion and a “Voluntary” giving up a membership, there are other considerations too.

Disqualified MLAs can seek legal redress that they be allowed to participate in a floor test. They can also argue that a Whip applies to actions in the house and not to Legislature party meeting. At any rate, their please might earn them a stay on any disqualification. The strategy behind this disqualification is simple enough: It will reduce the halfway mark in the Assembly and make the current support of the Ashok Gehlot Government, estimated by Congress sources at a shade over the 100 mark in the 20 seat house, much more secure.

The notices meanwhile are also intended to pressure some of the rebels to retrace their steps. The reaction of the Pilot camp was not clear as the leader did not address the media as had been expected and BJP also called off its meeting.

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