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Tribune News Service
New Delhi, July 19
Ahead of the crucial court hearing tomorrow on Sachin Pilot and 18 other rebels' petitions challenging the disqualification notices issued to them by the Rajasthan Speaker, the Congress today hinted at the possibility of convening a short Assembly session in the state this week.
"We have absolute majority in the Rajasthan Assembly. We have 109 MLAs in a House of 200," Congress leader Randeep Surjewala said when asked if the party's government in Rajasthan had the numbers should there be a floor test.
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'CM gehlot to take call on floor test'
The decision on when and how the floor test will happen will be taken by CM Ashok Gehlot and the government. It is the CM's discretion. —Ajay Maken, Congress leader
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The Congress leader did not deny a plan to call an Assembly session in the state while saying that it was the prerogative of the state Cabinet to convene the session.
Surjewala, however, claimed "absolute majority in the state". The quick convening of the Rajasthan Assembly session could well be Congress's strategy to checkmate Pilot, whose rebellion has unsettled the government led by Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot. Gehlot yesterday met Rajasthan Governor Kalraj Mishra, although the Governor House clarified that the meeting was in respect of the state's fight against Covid-19.
The Assembly session plan is part of the Congress strategy should Pilot and 18 other rebel Congress MLAs manage a reprieve from the state High Court. The rebel camp is demanding that the disqualification notices issued to them under the anti-defection law should be quashed.
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109 MLAs with us: Surjewala
We have absolute majority in the Rajasthan Assembly. We have 109 MLAs in a House of 200. The BJP leaders are now scared of a trust vote.— —Randeep Surjewala, Congress
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The Speaker's notices followed a Congress complaint that Pilot and Co. had "voluntarily given up the party's membership" by defying its whip to attend two CLP meetings.
Should the court grant relief to the rebels, the Congress, in an Assembly session, could issue a fresh whip calling for a floor test to prove the government's strength in the House and secure itself for the next six months.
"The Rajasthan government is well within its rights to call an Assembly session, issue a fresh whip to MLAs and even take a floor test. In such a case, all MLAs, including rebels, would have to honour the whip. If they do not, they can attract disqualification for defying the whip. Such an action would be independent of the matter before the Rajasthan High Court," former Law Secretary PK Malhotra told The Tribune today.
Shekhawat must go over tapegate: Cong
The Congress demanded the resignation of Gajendra Shekhawat from the Union Cabinet, saying he has no authority to continue when he is heard on audio clips that suggest a BJP conspiracy to topple the govt in Rajasthan.
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