New Delhi: By pushing for the assembly to be convened amid the Sachin Pilot rebellion, Rajasthan Chief Minister and veteran politician Ashok Gehlot has played what is being seen as his last card to save his turf in the state.
The chief minister’s demand for an assembly session, Congress sources say, is a strategic move to force the MLAs of the Sachin Pilot camp to return to Jaipur.
Believed to be holed up in Delhi, the MLAs, it is learnt, have been incommunicado for the past 12 days as many don’t have access to mobile phones.
“If the state assembly is in place, the rebel MLAs will have to attend the session too. For this, they will have to come out of their hideouts and return to Jaipur as a whip can then be issued, and if they don’t follow it, they run the risk of being disqualified,” said a senior Congress leader, adding that the party felt it was the only option they had left.
Gehlot’s decision to approach the governor for an assembly session came hours after the Supreme Court Thursday refused to stop the Rajasthan High Court from delivering its verdict on a plea filed by the Sachin Pilot camp challenging the showcause notices issued by the Rajasthan assembly speaker.
The notices, which threaten disqualification, were issued after Pilot and 18 MLAs rebelled against the Congress government in the state. The HC Friday ordered status quo on the Pilot camp’s petition, which it found maintainable, and thus precluded any move by the Rajasthan speaker to disqualify them until a final decision is taken.
On Thursday evening, Gehlot met Governor Kalraj Mishra where, sources said, he requested that an assembly session be convened. When he didn’t get a go-ahead until late at night or in the morning, Gehlot held a press meet and alleged that Mishra is acting in such a manner due to “pressure from the top”.
A second Congress leader pointed out that while the chief minister has now formally made a request to convene an assembly session, he has not mentioned the word “floor test” so far.
“Calling an assembly session is one thing and holding a floor test another. We are confident that the 19 MLAs will not come if a session is convened, and, then, if a floor test is held, there will be no problem in clearing it,” the leader said.
“So, this is a strategic move that has been played out to call their bluff,” the leader added, referring to the BJP’s remarks that the government should call for a floor test of its own accord if it’s confident of its numbers.
Also Read: Here’s what the anti-defection law challenged by Sachin Pilot in Rajasthan HC says
‘Not very hopeful of getting governor’s nod’
While officially the party has maintained that it has the support of 109 MLAs in the 200-member assembly, sources claim Gehlot only has 102, including two from the Bharatiya Tribal Party.
The party also has the support of 11 Independent MLAs, besides that of one RJD MLA. Two CPI(M) MLAs are providing outside support to the Gehlot government.
The BJP, meanwhile, has 72 MLAs and the support of 3 Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP) legislators.
“Earlier, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot seemed quite confident about holding a floor test but the situation has changed slightly,” a Congress leader had told ThePrint Thursday. “The central leadership is also of the view that a floor test should only be called when there is complete clarity on the numbers as cross-voting can prove fatal.”
Another party leader said they are not very hopeful of getting the governor’s approval for a floor test.
“The governor is unlikely to give us the permission so it is a win-win situation for the Congress. If he refuses to give (permission), the BJP and the Pilot camp will get exposed, and if he allows, then it will force the Pilot camp MLAs to come out from their resort and be in Jaipur,” the leader added.
This is an updated version of the report
Also Read: ‘Illegal, unconstitutional’ — Kapil Sibal says HC order on Sachin Pilot defies SC precedent
Manipur, Goa, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, and now Rajasthan – the BJP’s appetite for bringing down duly elected Governments, or manipulating the mandate through dubious means seems unsatiated. Shame on this party with a difference.
The governor cannot refuse to permit calling assembly session. If he does, that would be a clear indication that BJP, the ruling party at the center, has pressurised him to do it. It is very bad that the central government is bent upon destabilising a state government. Very bad days for democracy. But this is nothing new. BJP has done it in other states also. The difference here is utter chicanery with which the operations are carried out involving constitutional authorities and institutions like governor and even judicial process.
Biased report as it ignores non sense statements by Gehlot who clearly wants Governor dragged in their internal strife.
Nothing much shall be achieved by holding floor test himself. If that happens, it is bur expected that a whip to vote for govt shall be issued by Congress. Yes, they will win floor test as dissidents shall be forced to vote for the govt. They will, due to whip. Will that solve the problem? CM’s utterances like ‘Nikamma’ has only aggravated the issue. Govt will buy some time before a ( no) confidence vote can be taken again but rift would have widened. Opposition will wait for an opportune time to strike & will continue their ‘efforts’ to bring them down. Then it will be a case of ‘matter of time’ but it shall not be a smooth sailing. Governance will suffer which will impact adversely in next poll.
One thing that all will agree on is abject failure of Congress high command in resolving or even trying to resolve the problem at hand.
In the last few days, I have changed my assessment of the two men. Astute he is, desires power, wishes to groom his son, all that is true, unfair to his deputy who has legitimate ambition that was being thwarted. However, for Sachin Pilot to seek opposition help to bring down his party’s government shows him in very poor light. At a time of epidemic and almost war. In some ways, a lot more dishonourable than Mr Scindia who at least wore his rebellion on his sleeve. 2. None of this takes away from the singular failure of the Gandhi family to keep their very few state governments secure, plan for grooming the next generation of leaders.