Rajasthan turmoil: BSP issues whip to 6 MLAs, says to vote against Gehlot govt

00:44 July 27

BSP issues whip to 6 MLAs

Jaipur: The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) has issued a whip to six Rajasthan assembly MLAs, who had announced a merger with the ruling Congress party last year, to vote against the Ashok Gehlot government in any proceedings of the house including the "no-confidence motion".

Reportedly, Rajendra Gudha, Lakhan Meena, Deepchand Kheria, Sandeep Yadav, JS Awana, and Wajib Ali had last year declared to have merged with the Congress after winning state polls as BSP candidates.

The official communication from the BSP says that the above MLAs have been notified that they are bound to follow the whip of the BSP failing which they would invite disqualification from the assembly.

"All six MLAs have been issued separate notices wherein they have been informed that since BSP is a recognised national party as such there can not be any merger under para (4) of the Xth Schedule at the state level at the instance of the six MLAs unless there is a merger of the entire BSP everywhere at the National Level which admittedly has not been done in the present case and therefore they cannot claim any merger under any illegal and unconstitutional order of speaker which is against the Xth Schedule as well as against several judgments of Hon’ble Supreme Court,” the press note read.

22:07 July 26

In fresh proposal, Raj govt requests the Governor to call the Assembly session to discuss COVID-19

The Rajasthan governor has received a revised proposal from the state cabinet led by Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot requesting that a session of the assembly be called on July 31 to discuss the coronavirus situation in the state, Raj Bhawan sources said on Sunday.

The proposal was received late on Saturday night, they said. The government has proposed to introduced a few Bills and discuss the coronavirus situation and its impact on the state's financial health during the session, they said.

Governor Kalraj Mishra had sought clarifications on six points from the state government, after Congress MLAs held a five-hour dharna on the lawns of the Raj Bhawan pressing for an Assembly session. The dharna was called off, according to the Congress, after Mishra said he would abide by the Constitution and not act under any pressure.

A statement from the governor included queries on the free movement of MLAs and the reason why the session needed to be called urgently. After a Friday late night sitting, the Cabinet met again at Gehlot's residence on Saturday, approving the new draft.

22:06 July 26

Rajasthan Congress calls off its Monday protest in front of Raj Bhawan

The Rajasthan Congress called off its Monday protest in front of the Raj Bhawan, hours after the party gave a nationwide call for agitation to protect the Constitution and democracy.

State Congress chief Govind Singh Dotasara said in a tweet, "Tomorrow, Congress workers will protest in front of Raj Bhawans as part of 'Save Democracy-Save Constitution' agitation call. But, in Rajasthan we will not do anything like that."

Earlier in the day, Congress leader Ajay Maken said in a show of solidarity with the Rajasthan government, led by Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, and for the protection of the Constitution and democracy, Congress workers will stage protests in a "Gandhian way" in front of Raj Bhawans across the country on Monday.

The Congress government in Rajasthan is facing a political crisis after a rebellion by the now sacked deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot and 18 other MLAs.

16:54 July 26

State Chief Secretary Rajeeva Swarup and State DGP (Director General of Police) Bhupendra Yadav met Governor Kalraj Mishra at Raj Bhawan in Jaipur, today.

State Chief Secretary Rajeeva Swarup and State DGP (Director General of Police) Bhupendra Yadav met Governor Kalraj Mishra at Raj Bhawan in Jaipur, today.

14:25 July 26

Rajasthan Governor listening to his masters' voice: Congress

Amid the political crisis in Rajasthan, the Congress on Sunday sought to keep up the pressure on Governor Kalraj Mishra and accused him of acting in a partisan way and listening what it dubbed as the voice of his masters at the Centre.

"The Governors have bound the function with the aid and advice of the state government (council of ministers) but he is listening to his masters' voice, that is from the government at the Centre," party spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi said while addressing a press conference here.

The Governor is facing flak from the Congress for not acceding to the state government's request to convene a special Assembly session to enable Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot prove his majority on the floor of the House in the wake of rebellion by Sachin Pilot and 18 other Congress MLAs over the leadership issue.

The Governor maintained on Friday that no one was above the constitutional decorum.

Singhvi added: "Constitutional authorities -- be it the Governors, courts or central government -- are supposed to not only know their constitutional roles and boundaries but to scrupulously follow them in letter and spirit and promote the true intent of the framers of the Constitution."

14:24 July 26

No mention of floor test in Raj govt proposal to Guv: Sources

There is no mention of a floor test in the Rajasthan government proposal to the governor asking him to start Assembly session from July 31, said sources on Sunday.

"Rajasthan government's proposal to the Governor asks to start Assembly Session from July 31 and proposes discussion on coronavirus and other bills. No mention of floor test in the proposal," sources said.

In 200-member Rajasthan Assembly, Congress at present has 107 MLAs, including Sachin Pilot and 18 other MLAs who have been issued notices of disqualification by Rajasthan Assembly Speaker CP Joshi on a complaint by chief whip Mahesh Joshi.

The power tussle in Rajasthan had taken a new turn when the Governor had not heeded the request of the Congress government to convene a session of the state Assembly urgently.

Earlier, Rajasthan Governor's Secretariat had said that the state government had presented a paper to convene the session of the Assembly at very short notice on the night of July 23. The paper was analysed and legal experts were consulted over it, it said.

It said 21-day notice is required for the session to be called according to the normal procedures.

13:44 July 26

Pilot staying in Haryana under BJP's supervision: P L Punia

Senior Congress leader P L Punia on Sunday alleged that former Deputy Chief Minister of Rajasthan Sachin Pilot is staying in a Haryana hotel under the supervision of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Punia accused the BJP of hatching a conspiracy to topple the Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot-led Rajasthan government.

"One thing is clear that it is the BJP's conspiracy to topple Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot-led Rajasthan government. Sachin Pilot and MLAs in his camp are staying in a Haryana hotel. They are not being allowed to meet outsiders. They are staying there under the BJP's supervision," Punia said.

Meanwhile, Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij has denied the role of the state government in the political crisis of Rajasthan and also refuted allegations of any of Congress MLAs being kept as hostages in Haryana.

Commenting upon the ongoing discussions between Gehlot and Rajasthan governor Kalraj Mishra over holding assembly session, Punia said, "I hope that the governor will allow the assembly session. The Rajasthan Congress will take the necessary steps."

13:43 July 26

"Governor Kalraj Mishra is not a BJP worker, he is the Head of Rajasthan govt. It is our moral and legal right to go to the Head's house to tell him of our problems, request him to protect law and demand for our rights," said Rajasthan minister Pratap Khachariyawas.

He further added, "CM had said that people will come to Raj Bhawan. It didn't mean that people will go inside it. If even one pebble is thrown at  Governor, CM Gehlot will himself face it first, Rajasthan cabinet will face it, Rajasthan Police will face it."

Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot had earlier stated that people will come to the Raj Bhawan and not that they would go inside it, he clarified on a statement given by CM Gehlot earlier this week.

"The Chief Minister had said that people will come to Raj Bhawan. He didn't mean that people will go inside it. If even one pebble is thrown at the Governor, Chief Minister Gehlot will himself face it first, Rajasthan cabinet will face it, Rajasthan Police will face it," Khachariyawas told reporters.

13:41 July 26

Congress MLAs perform yoga at Hotel Fairmont in Jaipur. Congress MLAs supporting Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot are staying at the hotel.

13:23 July 26

Rajasthan Government proposal to Governor asks to start Assembly Session from July 31st, proposes a discussion on Coronavirus and other Bills. No mention of floor test in theproposal: Sources

13:20 July 26

BJP misusing constitutional institutions: Raj Congress in-charge

Rajasthan Congress in-charge Avinash Pande on Sunday alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is "playing with democratic values and traditions by misusing constitutional institutions".

Taking part in the party's #SpeakUpForDemocracy campaign, Pande took to twitter and posted videos.

"The rejection by the Hon'ble Governor of the request made by the Hon'ble Chief Minister to convene an early assembly session in the state makes it clear that the BJP Government is playing with democratic values and traditions by misusing constitutional institutions," Pandey said in a tweet.

In a subsequent tweet, Pandey said, "At a time when humanity is facing coronavirus pandemic, instead of giving relief to the common man, the BJP has conspired to "destabilise" the Madhya Pradesh and now the Rajasthan government."

Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has demanded that an Assembly session should be convened to discuss several issues including coronavirus situation and political crisis in the state.

The Rajasthan Governor's Secretariat had said on Friday that the date on which the Assembly session is to be convened has not been mentioned in the cabinet note and no approval was given by the Rajasthan cabinet.

Rajasthan plunged into a political crisis after differences between former Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot and Gehlot came out in the open. Pilot was removed as the deputy chief minister of Rajasthan and as the state unit chief of the party.

10:32 July 26

Congress Spokesperson Mohan Prakash said that it might be possible that Governor of Rajasthan is under the pressure of Central government. 

The Governor had asked Gehlot to submit again his recommendation for calling a session, clarifying six points. These included queries on the free movement of MLAs and the reason the session needs to be summoned urgently.

Gehlot's government has been under threat after his now sacked deputy Sachin Pilot rebelled. Eighteen other dissident MLAs have also defied the party whip to attend CLP meetings.

07:36 July 26

'Speak Up For Democracy' campaign to start from today

The Congress has decided will run a nationwide digital campaign 'Speak Up For Democracy' today against the BJP's "Attempts to violate constitutional and democratic values and tradition", a party leader said.

All India Congress Committee (AICC) General Secretary Avinash Pande said the campaign will start at 10 am on Sunday.

He alleged that the BJP has been "Constantly striking at constitutional institutions and values". Attempts were being made to topple elected state governments one after another, Pande alleged.

In a video message on Saturday night, he said the Congress government in Madhya Pradesh government was toppled by the BJP and now it was "conspiring to do the same in Rajasthan"

"The chief minister of Rajasthan requested the governor to call an Assembly session. But ignoring the request shows that the Central government is misusing constitutional institutions and playing with democratic values and traditions," he alleged.

07:02 July 26

Rajasthan turmoil: Gehlot requests governor to call assembly session to discuss COVID

Jaipur: A day after leading a dharna at the Raj Bhawan here, Rajasthan Chief Minister on Saturday said if necessary Congress MLAs will meet the President and hold a sit-in outside the prime minister's home to settle the crisis in the state.

At a meeting of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP), Gehlot indicated that the plan was to have a floor test to prove that the majority of Congress MLAs and allies are with him in the tussle for power.

He said the government has the majority and wants to go to the assembly floor, a statement issued by Congress chief whip Mahesh Joshi after the CLP meeting said.

The CLP meeting was held at the hotel where the MLAs in the Gehlot camp are holed up for days.

The chief minister asked us to remain prepared to stay longer at the hotel. If required, he said, we would go to meet the President and would also hold a dharna outside the prime minister's residence, a party leader said.

On Friday, Congress MLAs had squatted on the lawns of the Raj Bhawan for five hours, demanding that Governor Kalraj Mishra should summon a session of the Vidhan Sabha.

READ:Cong to run nationwide digital campaign 'Speak Up For Democracy' today

According to the party's statement, Gehlot told the CLP that it was fight to save democracy.

He said the strategy for the future will be planned after taking the feedback from the MLAs.

Wherever we need to go, be it Rashtrapati Bhavan or outside the Pradhan Mantri's residence, we aren't going to stop, the statement quoted him as saying.

Apparently referring to the Raj Bhawan dharna, AICC spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said the unity shown on Friday was amazing and it will be remembered how 102 people together defeated those trying to crush the Constitution.

The dharna at the Raj Bhawan was called off Friday night, according to the Congress, after Mishra said he will abide by the Constitution but not act under any pressure.

READ:Cong to protest outside Raj Bhavans across the country on Monday

The Governor asked Gehlot to submit again his recommendation for calling a session, clarifying six points. These included queries on free movement of MLAs and the reason the session needs to be summoned urgently.

Gehlot's government has been under threat after his now sacked deputy Sachin Pilot rebelled. Eighteen other dissident MLAs have also defied the party whip to attend CLP meetings.

Including the 19 dissidents, the Congress has 107 MLAs in the 200-member assembly and the BJP 72. 

(Inputs from Agency)