Amid the ongoing political crisis in Rajasthan, the Congress on Tuesday, July 14, removed rebel Sachin Pilot as the Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister and also as the state party chief. The development was announced by Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala today.
Apart from Sachin Pilot, cabinet ministers Vishvendra Singh and Ramesh Meena, too, have been removed from their respective posts.
The decision to remove Pilot came today after the rebel leader skipped a second meeting of the Rajasthan MLAs. Senior Congress leader Surjewala said, "I regret that Sachin Pilot and some of his associates have been swayed by the BJP's plot and are now conspiring to topple the Congress govt elected by 8 crore Rajasthanis. It is unacceptable."
The Congress Legislative Party (CLP) meeting held today passed resolutions to sack Sachin Pilot as the Rajasthan Congress chief. It also authorised state CM Ashok Gehlot to remove the rebel leader as his deputy CM.
Gehlot not only sacked Pilot as his deputy but also dropped two of the Pilot's loyalist ministers, identified as Ramesh Meena and Vishwendra Singh.
#WATCH Congress party has decided to remove Sachin Pilot as Deputy CM and Rajasthan PCC Chief. Vishvender Singh & Ramesh Meena removed as Ministers: Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala #Rajasthan pic.twitter.com/sJHmE9kI3T
— ANI (@ANI) July 14, 2020
However, Ashok Gehlot did not address the press after the CLP meeting, instead went straight to Rajasthan Governor Kalraj Mishra to inform him about the reshuffling of the state cabinet.
Govind Singh Dotasra, the new Rajasthan Congress chief
After removing rebel Sachin Pilot from the post of Rajasthan Congress chief, the party appointed Govind Singh Dotasra as the new state party chief.
