New Delhi: The Congress in Rajasthan has decided to wait until Friday when the state High Court will deliver its verdict on the plea by 19 rebel Congress MLAs, against their disqualification notices, before it makes any move.
The party, however, is also looking at the possibility of calling an assembly session next week on a few important and ‘urgent’ issues related to governance, including coronavirus, and in an attempt to force the rebel MLAs to come to Jaipur. A final decision on this is yet to be taken and is likely to be taken Friday
“One section is of the view that we should go for floor test immediately but another suggested that we should wait for the High Court order that will come tomorrow,” said senior Congress leader Ajay Maken.
“We are ready for a floor test as we have the numbers. We are ready to call an assembly session to prove our majority.” However, he said a final decision on whether to call for an assembly session or a floor test will be taken by them soon.
He further said, technically, they don’t need to wait for the Supreme Court order, which is expected Monday before going for the floor test. “The other section says that we should wait for the High Court decision, as we have the numbers, and that even BJP and the rebel MLAs are not asking for it and nor are the rebel MLAs.”
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot while interacting with the media Thursday also said that an assembly session will be called soon, but no date and time has been fixed as of now.
“We will call the assembly session soon, we have a complete majority and we will prove it. Those who have gone astray and made a mistake are the ones who have approached the court,” Gehlot said. He also said some of the Pilot camp MLAs are in touch with him, and if a session is called they will support the government.
“A section of the party leaders is of the view that an assembly session can be called to discuss some urgent issues to rein in the rebel MLAs next week,” said another senior Congress leader. “If the assembly is in place, they will have to attend the session and for this will need to be back in Jaipur as a whip can then be issued and if they flout it, they can risk disqualification.”
Another party leader said while they are considering convening an assembly session, they are yet to decide on whether to hold a floor test or not as they are not completely sure of the numbers. According to sources, Gehlot has the support of 102 MLAs, while the BJP has 72 MLAs and also has the support of three RLP legislators.
“The figure of 102 includes the Independent candidates too and one can’t be completely sure of what they will do in case of a trust vote. Though, so far, they have maintained that they are with Gehlot,” said a source.
“Earlier Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot seemed quite confident about holding a floor test but the situation has changed slightly,” said another leader. “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.”
‘Situation complex as of now’
Explaining the current Rajasthan political crisis, another senior Congress leader said the situation has become “quite complex” as earlier the party was hoping that a few MLAs would be disqualified, which would have brought the majority mark down, something which cannot happen currently.
“How long can the MLAs be kept inside the hotel? It has already been more than a week. Many MLAs are also getting impatient with the way things are going,” said the senior leader. “Keeping the flock together is also a task. The images of MLAs enjoying inside the hotel while the coronavirus cases are rising is bad optics and, finally, the ministers have been asked to report to the ministry too.”
To make matters worse for the Congress, the Supreme Court Thursday said Rajasthan Assembly Speaker C.P. Joshi cannot decide on disqualification of rebel Congress MLAs until it decides on the issue.
At the same time, the apex court allowed the Rajasthan High Court to go ahead and deliver its verdict on the plea by the Pilot camp MLAs against the show cause notices served to them by the Speaker. It, however, said that the verdict will remain subject to the outcome of the hearing in the SC.
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot Wednesday wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, drawing his attention to the “desperate efforts being made to demolish elected governments in the states through horse-trading”. The letter dated 19 July was tweeted and released to the media on 22 July.
Gehlot in the letter alleged that central leaders and ministers of the BJP, including Gajendra Singh Shekhawat (Jal Shakti Minister), are trying to topple his government. In a veiled reference to ‘rebel’ Congress leader Sachin Pilot, Gehlot said: “Some very ambitious leaders of our party are also involved in this act”.
Also read: CP Joshi — Rajasthan speaker, Gandhi-loyalist & ‘massive failure’ as in-charge of 10 states