After a no-show from Sachin Pilot, the Rajasthan Congress has decided to sack him as the Deputy Chief Minister. Pilot’s two loyalists Vishvendra Singh, Ramesh Meena have also been dropped from the Cabinet. Govind Singh Dotasra made Congress state president and will replace Pilot. Hem Singh Shekhawat made Sewa Dal state president.
Sachin Pilot was “ensnared” by the BJP to bring down the Congress government in Rajasthan, said the party, announcing his expulsion from the cabinet. Sachin Pilot, whose demands reportedly included Chief Ministership, seems set to be the next high-profile exit after Jyotiraditya Scindia.
Addressing media after the CLP meeting, Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala accused the BJP of misleading Sachin Pilot and other Congress leaders. “We spoke to Pilot multiple times and told him that all his concerns will be addressed. No other young neta has grown as much as Pilot. We have given him due recognition in the short-term that he was in politics.”
The Congress had 107 MLAs and the support of 13 independents and five from smaller parties. That number has now come down to 90 Congress MLAs, seven independent members and three from smaller parties – 101.
