Cong evolves 6-prong plan to counter Pilot

NEWDELHI: As the face-off between Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot and his former deputy, Sachin Pilot, intensified, the Congress dialled its prominent legal brains to guide the former’s team at every step even as the experts hold the latter in high regard, people involved in the matter.

The legal experts evolved a sixpronged strategy to counter Pilot and his loyalists, which culminated in state assembly speaker CP Joshi’s move of sending a show-cause notice to them on Wednesday morning. The decision to hold two Congress legislative party meetings, keeping the doors open for Pilot even as he was incommunicado, stripping him of his portfolios but keeping him in the party, and preparing drafts of letters were all done in consultations with party leader and lawyer Abhishek Singhvi.

Gehlot , Randeep Singh Surjewala, Ajay Maken, and Avinash Pandey held frequent consultations with Singhvi, who was assisted by other lawyers. They relied on the Rajasthan’s state anti-defection law and the Constitution’s 10th schedule to make the disqualification case against Pilot and lawmakers loyal to him.

“As the shadow of the BJP [Bharatiya Janata Party] loomed large, we realised that we have to try our best to protect the Congress government. We decided to ask for disqualification of Pilot and his loyalists from the assembly as it would reduce the numbers in the House,” said a leader involved in the meetings who asked not to be named.

The Congress decided against expelling Pilot from the party as it would benefit him. Under the legislative laws, if lawmakers are sacked from a party, they remain members of legislative bodies as independents.

For Gehlot, it was a chance to kill three birds with one stone. He could minimise the prospects of the BJP toppling his government, oust his arch-rival, and consolidate his position within the party, said a second Congress leader requesting anonymity.

On Tuesday, Pilot called Singhvi and requested him to fight his legal battle. “Singhvi told Pilot that the honourable thing for him would be not to take [up] his case,” said a Singhvi aide who asked not to be named.

PDT Achary, former secretary general of Lok Sabha said, “There is a vague area and that Congress might try to show that as Pilot didn’t come for two CLP meetings that were called to save the government, he has shown his intent. But these interpretations can be challenged in court.”