Rajasthan crisis highlights: 3 Ashok Gehlot loyalists get showcause notice

Three close aides and key loyalists of Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot were issued notices on Tuesday for indiscipline after AICC observer submitted their report to Congress president Sonia Gandhi.

According to latest reports, AICC observers who were sent to Rajasthan to resolve the power tussle have submitted their report to Congress president Sonia Gandhi.

Amid the political crisis that has gripped Rajasthan, several state ministers, and MLAs have gathered at chief minister Ashok Gehlot's residence. Read more

Congress will not be weakened by what BJP says or does. Matter is internal to Rajasthan's Congress family. MLAs got angry, resigned, it is a family matter. Not a single MLA is against Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi: Congress minister PS Khachariyawas.

Amid an ongoing political turmoil in the Congress in Rajasthan, the party's chief whip in the state, Mahesh Joshi, on Tuesday said a meeting of the MLAs loyal to chief minister Ashok Gehlot was not called to mount pressure on the party high-command.

Joshi said this while reacting to All India Congress Committee (AICC) observer Ajay Maken's "indiscipline" remark for holding the meeting.

Congress leader Pawan Kumar Bansal refuted rumours about him joining the party presidential race and said: “These rumours are without any basis… The idea never crossed my mind.”

“Rahul Ji's yatra is a flop, not getting enough support. Two factions are fighting in Rajasthan & he is unable to handle Congress. This tweet reflects his mental state on what he is thinking”: Union minister Anurag Thakur on Rahul Gandhi's tweet.

Two Congress observers Mallikarjun Kharge and Ajay Maken are preparing a written report on the developments in Rajasthan and are likely to submit it by the evening.

Sonia Gandhi has summoned senior leader A K Antony. People close to him said he will reach Delhi by 10pm.

Congress leader Sachin Pilot has reached Delhi. 

Congress central election authority (CEA) chairman Madhusudan Mistry on Tuesday submitted a list of delegates, who can vote in the party's presidential polls, to Sonia Gandhi.

Amid suspense over who could take on Shashi Tharoor in the Congress president polls, party's central election authority chairman Madhusudan Mistry on Tuesday said AICC treasurer Pawan Kumar Bansal has got nomination forms collected, adding that it may be for someone else.

Mistry also said a representative of Tharoor has informed his office that he will file a nomination for the post of president on September 30 at 11am.

Congress leader Sachin Pilot dismissed the report claiming he has told the Congress high command that Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot should not remain CM if he decides to contest for the party president post.

Amid high political drama in Rajasthan over the likely successor of Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot, Sachin Pilot is on his way to Delhi.

Congress MLA Sachin Pilot is in constant touch with other MLAs apart from supporting MLAs, sources told ANI. It is further reported that Pilot has asked his supporters to wait for the high command's decision.

Observers shouldn't be upset this early, they should have waited for a while. We don't want to fight with our own people. If a senior leader like Dhariwal has raised issues then the party should pay heed to them: Gehlot loyalist minister PS Khachariyawas

Earlier on Monday, Ajay Maken and Mallikarjun Kharge briefed party chief Sonia Gandhi about the developments. However, Sonia Gandhi asked Maken and Kharge, who were appointed observers for the legislature party meeting, to give a written report.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Monday expressed her disappointment at the events in Rajasthan and sought a written report on the turmoil after scores of lawmakers defied the central leadership in an unprecedented rebellion, people aware of the development said. Read more

MLAs loyal to Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot rebelled Sunday against the Congress high command over the possibility of Sachin Pilot becoming the next CM, once the veteran leader is elected as the party’s national president. These are the key players in the Rajasthan drama. Read more

Rajasthan cabinet minister Shanti Dhariwal on Monday lashed out at Congress' state in-charge Ajay Maken alleging that he was part of a "conspiracy" to remove Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, reported news agency ANI. 

“It was a 100 per cent conspiracy to remove the CM (Ashok Gehlot) and the general secretary incharge was a part of it. I am not talking about anyone else, no charge on Kharge but only the General Secretary incharge,” he said.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is keeping a close watch on events unfolding in Rajasthan as the Congress grapples with uncertainty over whether Ashok Gehlot will remain chief minister or take up the post of party president. Read more here

Sachin Pilot and his team have decided not to “confront” MLAs close to chief minister Ashok Gehlot but “wait and watch” the decision of the party high command, as the standoff between the two factions over a new chief minister intensified on Monday, people familiar with the development said. Read more

Congress lawmakers in Rajasthan (and chief minister Ashok Gehlot) have achieved what no other state unit of the party or powerful regional satrap could in the recent past. Read more here

Congress leaders Ajay Maken and Mallikarjun Kharge will submit the report to Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday around 12 noon about the developments in Rajasthan in wake of the political crisis in the state.