Congress Warns Of Action Against Party Leaders In Rajasthan For Making Public Statements

Rajasthan Political Crisis: The party also asked its leaders at all levels to refrain from making public statements against party colleagues.

The Congress on Thursday issued a stern warning to party leaders in Rajasthan on issuing public statements regarding the party's "internal matters and against other leaders". Congress also warned of "strict disciplinary action" if any leader violated the party advisory.

The party also asked its leaders at all levels to refrain from making public statements against party colleagues. "It is advised that all Congress leaders at any level should refrain from making public statements against other leaders or about Party's internal matters," a statement issued by AICC General Secretary (Organisation) KC Venugopal said.

"We are noticing statements of Congress leaders in Rajasthan regarding the party's internal matters and against other leaders," Venugopal said.

"Strict disciplinary action will be initiated under the provisions of the Constitution of the Indian National Congress if any violation of this advisory is made," the note further said.

The development comes amid a tussle in Rajasthan Congress between loyalists of Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot. 

Last week, after around 90 MLAs threatened to resign over a possible move to appoint Sachin Pilot as successor of Gehlot, who was in the fray to contest the upcoming Congress president election.

However, earlier in the day, Gehlot announced that he would not contest the Congress presidential polls and took moral responsibility for the political crisis in his state.

After meeting Sonia Gandhi in Delhi, Gehlot told reporters that he apologised to the Congress chief for the developments in Rajasthan when MLAs supporting him, defying the party's central observers, skipped the Congress Legislative Party (CLP) meeting and held a parallel gathering.

The CLP meeting was called to pass a resolution authorising the Congress president to take a decision on Gehlot's successor.

On Tuesday, the Congress observers -- Mallikarjun Kharge and Ajay Maken -- submitted their report to Sonia Gandhi and recommended disciplinary action against three party leaders, including two ministers, close to Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot.

However, they did not seek any action against Ashok Gehlot. 

Following the report, show cause notices were issued against Cabinet Minister Shanti Dhariwal, Minister and Congress chief whip in the Assembly Mahesh Joshi, and RTDC chairman Dharmendra Rathore, PTI reported. 

The three Rajasthan leaders were asked to reply within 10 days why action should not be taken against them for "grave indiscipline".