One third expect Pilot to convince MLAs to join BJP: Poll

New Delhi, July 16 (IANS) While there is much speculation on rebel Rajasthan Congress leader Sachin Pilot’s next move after being sacked as Deputy Chief Minister and state party chief, almost one-third of the respondents in the IANS-CVoter Snap Poll expect that he will try to convince his MLAs to join the BJP.

The poll, on Thursday with a sample size of 1,200, found that 32.7 per cent respondents said that Pilot will try to convince his loyal MLAs to join the BJP.

After being sacked from important posts, Pilot and other rebel MLAs have been slapped with a show-cause notice by the Assembly Speaker.

“What according to you will be Sachin Pilot’s next strategy?” was the question posed in the snap poll.

Over a fourth (26.3 per cent) respondents said Pilot will break away from the Congress and float a new party with his MLAs, while just under a fourth (24 per cent)

said Pilot will stay in the Congress, try to gain the support of more MLAs and will rebel again at the right time.

The lowest probability outcome, as per the snap poll, is for Pilot to work under Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, with only 17.1 per cent holding that Pliot will remain in the party and work under Gehlot.

In the latest developments on the crisis in Rajasthan, Pilot and his 18 loyal MLAs on Thursday moved the Rajasthan High Court against Speaker C.P. Joshi’s disqualification notice, alleging that the Speaker “was acting under Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot’s influence”.

The court deferred the plea in the matter as Pilot camp appealed to amend the plea.

The petition was filed by P.R. Meena, an MLA from Pilot group on behalf of other MLAs who were slapped notice for not attending two Congress Legislature Party meetings called recently.

Pilot moved the court ahead of Friday deadline which the Speaker had given to him and other rebel MLAs to respond.

–IANS

san/vd