After Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Monday termed his former deputy Sachin Pilot as a "worthless" person and accused him of conspiring with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for the past six months to dislodge his party's government in the state, Pilot, in a statement said: "I am saddened but not surprised to be at the receiving end of such baseless and vexatious allegations being leveled against me. This is done solely to malign me and to stifle the legitimate concerns that I had raised against the party leadership of the state, as a member and MLA of INC. This attempt further aims at defaming me and attack my credibility".


"The narrative is being redirected to avoid addressing the main issue. I will be taking appropriate and strictest possible legal action against the MLA who was made to make these accusations. I am sure more such concocted allegations will be thrown at me to cause aspersions on my public image. But I shall be unfettered and remain firm in my beliefs and convictions," Sachin Pilot further said.





Rajasthan Congress continues to remain in turmoil after simmering differences between Pilot and Gehlot came out in the open. While interacting with media persons, Gehlot resorted to name-calling and called Pilot as “nikamma and nakara”.


“There was no demand to replace state Cong chief in seven years even when we knew Sachin Pilot is worthless,” Gehlot said.


"Our MLAs are staying without any restrictions but they have held their's (MLAs) captive. They are calling us and crying over phone while explaining their ordeal. Their personal mobile phones have been snatched. Some of them want to join us," Ashok Gehlot said referring to the MLAs who have sided with Pilot.


On July 14, Sachin Pilot sacked from the posts of Rajasthan's Deputy Chief Minister and state PCC president.


Rajasthan Assembly Speaker CP Joshi had sent notices to Pilot and 18 MLAs under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution, popularly known as the anti-defection law after chief's whip application for their disqualification.


However, the disqualification notice was challenged by Sachin Pilot and MLAs from his faction in the Rajasthan High Court, which is hearing the matter.


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