The action leaves Rajasthan Supreme Court to hear the President’s plea today

New Delhi:

The President of Rajasthan’s request to the Supreme Court to prevent the High Court from announcing a verdict on the petition of Sachin Pilot and 18 other Congressional rebels challenging the disqualification notices will be heard today. President CP Joshi also challenged the High Court’s order asking him to stay all action against the rebels until his ruling on Friday; he says he wants to avoid “a constitutional crisis” and a confrontation with justice on his powers. Team Pilot responded with a petition asking to be heard before the court rules on the President’s request.

Rajasthan’s Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, fighting the rebellion of his former deputy Sachin Pilot which pushed his government to the brink, wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alleging the BJP’s attempts to provoke defections by bribing the congressmen. In the letter dated July 19 (Sunday), Mr. Gehlot named Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat among the BJP leaders he said were involved in making deals with rebel congressmen.

Sachin Pilot and 18 other rebel MPs appealed to the Rajasthan High Court against disqualification notices served on them by the Speaker of the Assembly after skipping two meetings called by the Chief Minister. The High Court will announce a decision on Friday and asked President CP Joshi to stay all action against the rebels until then.

Here are the updates on the political crisis in Rajasthan: