Rajasthan Governor summons House session, puts in 3 conditions

After repeated requests, Rajasthan Governor Kalraj Mishra on Monday agreed to summon a session of the state assembly provided the government gives a 21-day notice.

The condition is part of three suggestions the Governor has made while returning Ashok Gehlot Cabinet’s recommendation that he should call a session of the Vidhan Sabha.

In the notification issued today, the Governor denied that he was delaying the summoning of the House session even though the Congress and the CM have accused him of being “under pressure from the top”.

This was the second time that Governor Mishra had returned a cabinet proposal on convening the assembly, amid the power tussle in Rajasthan.

The state government, the Governor said, should undertake to broadcast live the proceedings of a floor test, if it takes place.

CM Gehlot, who has been pressing for an assembly session, wants to prove his majority to end the political impasse created after the rebellion by Sachin Pilot, who has since been sacked as the deputy CM and head of the state unit.

It should also ensure precautions during the proposed Vidhan Sabha sitting against the spread of coronavirus, the Governor’s note said.

Citing the coronavirus situation, the Governor had earlier said it would be difficult to call all the members of legislative assembly (MLAs) at a short notice.

Governor Mishra, according to news agency ANI, had asked whether CM Ashok Gehlot wants a trust vote in the state assembly.

“Do you want to move Motion of Confidence? It is not mentioned in the proposal but you have been speaking about it in the media,” the governor was quoted as saying by ANI.

The Governor had earlier questioned the need for calling the session when the government already had the majority and the disqualification matter was pending in the Supreme Court.

In another development, assembly Speaker CP Joshi withdrew his petition from the top court challenging a July 21 order of the high court directing him to defer disqualification proceedings against former deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot and 18 Congress legislators backing him.