Rajasthan Political Crisis: Rajasthan Governor's 3 Conditions To Clear Assembly Session

Rajasthan Crisis: Sachin Pilot's open revolt has pushed the state government to brink. (File)

Highlights

Kalraj Mishra returned Chief Minister's proposal for session from July 31
The Governor this time raised two questions on Ashok Gehlot's proposal
He said it would be difficult to call MLAs at short notice amid pandemic

Jaipur/ New Delhi: The Rajasthan Governor has sent back Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot's request for an assembly session from Friday with questions, asserting, however, that he was "in principle" not against the move. Governor Kalraj Mishra has questioned whether MLAs can be given three weeks' notice and how physical distancing can be maintained. The Rajasthan Speaker has dropped a petition in the Supreme Court involving his powers to disqualify rebel MLAs. The move was aimed at outmanoeuvring the Governor, who had earlier cited the court case for not clearing the assembly session request.

Here are 10 developments on Rajasthan political crisis:

"The Raj Bhavan (Governor) gives the go ahead to call the Assembly session keeping in mind the suggestions made" said Mr Mishra in a statement in which he listed three queries. He asked whether the Chief Minister wanted to bring a trust vote. "Do you want to bring a confidence motion? As it is not mentioned in the proposal but in public you (Mr Gehlot) are making statements that you want to bring a Confidence Motion," Mr Mishra asked.
The Governor also said it would be difficult to call all MLAs at short notice during the pandemic. "Can you consider giving 21 days' notice to the MLAs?" - his note asked. His third question was how social distancing will be maintained during the session.
When he rejected Mr Gehlot's first proposal on Friday, the Governor had given six reasons. He had pointed out that the proposal did not mention any agenda and had also asked for a date.
The Chief Minister, who has been pressing for an assembly session since last week and protested for five hours at the Governor's residence to push for it, submitted a fresh proposal on Saturday and listed coronavirus and economy as the agenda for the special session.
To take care of one more objection of the Governor - about the case being heard in court - the Congress withdrew its petition in the top court. Last Thursday, the Supreme Court refused to stop the High Court from ruling on the rebels' petition - as requested by the Speaker - saying the "voice of dissent cannot be suppressed in a democracy". The Speaker had also challenged being told by the High Court to hold off on any action against the rebels until its verdict.
A day later, the High Court extended that protection to the rebels and deferred its verdict after accepting team Pilot's eleventh-hour request to add the centre to the case so it can weigh in on whether the anti-defection law applies to them.
Chief Minister Gehlot believes the numbers are on his side and is keen on taking a floor test in the assembly. He also insists that some Congress MLAs supporting him are being held hostage at the two resorts in Haryana's Gurugram where team Pilot is parked since they launched a revolt two weeks ago.
The Chief Minister claims the support of 102 MLAs, just one past the majority mark of 101 in the 200-member Rajasthan assembly. "Three rebel MLAs are likely to come back in the next two days," Congress leader Randeep Surjewala claimed.
Sachin Pilot broke ranks with the Congress after months of insurmountable differences with his former boss Ashok Gehlot. The last straw for Mr Pilot came in the form of summons to answer questions in an investigation into alleged attempts to bribe Congress MLAs into turning against the government in which he was Deputy Chief Minister.
If Team Pilot wins its case, the rebels can vote in the assembly and endanger the Congress government. If they vote against their party, Congress, they can be disqualified but their votes will count.