Speaker files plea in SC against order

Whether governor seeks a notice of 21 days or 31 days to call Assembly session, we will be victorious. — Ashok Gehlot, Raj CM

Jaipur: Rajasthan Speaker CP Joshi has filed a fresh petition in the SC challenging the HC order staying proceedings on disqualification petitions against Sachin Pilot and 18 Cong MLAs.

New Delhi/Jaipur, July 29: Sachin Pilot, who rebelled against the Ashok Gehlot government, congratulated Govind Singh Dotasra on Wednesday for taking charge as the Rajasthan Congress president, saying he expects the new chief will work without prejudice and treat with respect the workers with whose hard work the government has been formed.

Mr Dotasra, who on Wednesday formally took over as the new president of the Rajasthan Congress, was appointed to the post after Pilot was sacked as the Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee chief and the deputy chief minister following accusations that he tried to topple the Congress government in the state as part of a “BJP conspiracy”.

“Congratulations to Govind Dotasra ji on assuming the charge of Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee chief. I expect that without any pressure or prejudice, you will give full respect to those workers with whose hard work the government has been formed,” Mr Pilot said in a tweet in Hindi.

In his response, Mr Dotasra said he hoped that Mr Pilot would come to Jaipur leaving the hospitality of the BJP and stand with the Congress government. “Thank you very much Sachinji. I also hope that you will leave

the hospitality of the BJP and Khattar government and come to Jaipur to stand with the Congress government for maintaining the honour of all those Congress workers whose hard work has formed the government, he tweeted.

Earlier in the day, Mr Pilot extended birthday wishes to Rajasthan Speaker C.P. Joshi.

“Best wishes to Rajasthan Speaker C.P. Joshi on his birthday. I

pray for his health and long life,” the Congress leader tweeted in Hindi.

Mr Pilot’s tweets come amid a power struggle between him and chief minister Ashok Gehlot.

Mr Pilot and 18 rebel MLAs are waiting for the high court’s decision on their challenge to the speaker's disqualification notices two weeks ago.

Pilot has the support of 18 dissident Congress MLAs. — PTI

— PTI Youth Congress workers wearing PPE kits stage a protest over Covid-19 situation at Rajiv Chowk in New Delhi as coronavirus cases across the nation has crossed 15 lakhs.