Congress observers for Rajasthan on Tuesday gave a clean chit to Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, but in a hardening of stance the party issued show-cause notices to two of his Cabinet Ministers and an MLA.

On the recommendation of Ajay Maken and Mallikarjun Kharge, the two central observers, the Congress disciplinary committee issues show-cause notice to Rajasthan Ministers Shanti Dhariwal and Mahesh Joshi, and MLA Dharmendra Rathore. All three considered hardcore Gehlot’s loyalists.

The Congress panel has asked the three  Rajasthan leaders to reply within 10 days why action should not be taken against them for grave indiscipline.. 

“This show cause notice is being issued seeking your reply within 10 days as to why disciplinary action not be taken against you as per the provisions of the constitution of the Indian National Congress,” the notice by disciplinary panel secretary Tariq Anwar said.

Disciplinary action had been sought against Dhariwal, who had figured prominently in the rebellion by the party legislators, Minister and Congress Chief Whip in the Assembly Joshi and Rathore for holding a parallel meet of MLAs and not allowing the Congress Legislature Party to meet.

AICC sources said the report drafted by Mallikarjun Kharge and Ajay Maken did not hold Gehlot responsible for the developments in the state since Sunday afternoon.

On his part, Gehlot spoke to the Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday evening and told her that he has no role in the political crisis in the State triggered by refusals of nearly 90 Congress MLAs to attend a CLP meeting and accept Sachin Pilot as Gehlot’s successor.

The telephonic  talk between Gehlot and Sonia was first after the high drama in Jaipur last Sunday when nearly 90 MLA defied the directive of the High command and paid no heed to central observers Ajay Maken and Mallikarjun Kharge as well.

There are clear indications that both Gehlot and Congress leadership in Delhi did not want to go for a showdown. Sources said senior leader Anand Sharma and Ambika Soni met with Sonia and then spoke to Gehlot to resolve the crisis. Former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Kamal Nath, who flew to Delhi on Monday, met Sonia. He is also reported to have talked to Gehlot.

Gehlot has already conveyed to Sonia his apology for the trouble in his home State. Gehlot is likely to visit Delhi on Wednesday. Sachin reached the national Capital on Tuesday evening and is expected to call on Sonia.

The observers, who had met MLAs in the State, termed as “indiscipline” the action of 82 MLAs in the State, setting conditions for the party leadership for appointing Chief Minister Gehlot’s successor.

Party’s chief whip in the State, Mahesh Joshi, said the meeting of the MLAs loyal to Gehlot was not called to mount pressure on the party’s high command. He said the MLAs have expressed their view so that it reaches the high command. Joshi said this while reacting to Maken’s “indiscipline” remark for holding the meeting.

“MLAs are ready for a one-on-one conversation. This is democracy. Do you think we will refuse to hold one-on-one talks with observers? The observers came and we had a family discussion. The chief minister asked me to bring Shanti Dhariwal to his residence. It was Gehlot’s leadership which saved the Government when, a few days ago, the Congress Government in Madhya Pradesh was toppled. Sonia is like a mother to all Congress workers. She herself refused the PM post and offered it to a great economist like Dr Manmohan Singh. Rahul is walking 1,000 kilometres to save the party. The Congress is not going to be weakened. We are not against any member of the Gandhi family,” said Khachariwah.

The Pilot camp has claimed that many of the MLAs were misled about the time and venue of the meeting and were called to the house of Gehlot loyalist Dhariwal to boost numbers. They cited the statements of some MLAs, including that of Indira Meena, to back their claim.

Another MLA Ganga Devi said she is with the party, Sonia and Rahul and whatever the party’s high command decides, she would stand with them.

Devi said she did not hand in her resignation letter. Rajasthan MLA Prashant Bairwa said he could not attend the meeting but visited Joshi’s residence and resigned.