Jaipur, Jul 15 (UNI) Rajasthan Assembly Speaker Dr CP Joshi on Wednesday issued notices to sacked Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot and 18 MLAs for ignoring the whip and sought their reply by July 17.
The Speaker issued the notices after chief whip Mahesh Joshi lodged a complaint against the rebels for skipping the Congress Legislature Meeting.
According to sources, if the defiant MLAs don't respond within a couple of days, then it will be assumed that they are withdrawing their membership from the Congress.
Meanwhile, sources in the Sachin Pilot camp termed the notice served by Rajasthan Speaker 'completely' illegal. "We are very much with Congress, unless the party removes us. We have been dedicated to the party and have worked hard on the ground. We are in touch with our lawyers and if it comes to that, after exhausting all options, we will resort to legal recourse", the sources said.
The political crisis in the state started on July 12 after Pilot raised the banner of revolt against CM Gehlot and sent a message to the party that he may quit the party with this loyalist MLAs. Pilot claimed in some interviews that he has the support of over 30 MLAs.
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