After HC setback, Gehlot shows up at Raj Bhawan with an army of MLAs

The Congress MLAs of Rajasthan raised slogans in support of Ashok Gehlot, while Governor Kalraj Mishra held talks with the chief minister at the Raj Bhawan in Jaipur on Friday (July 24), on convening an assembly session that would give them an opportunity to establish its claim of having majority support and bring an end to the political crisis.

#WATCH Rajasthan: Congress MLAs supporting Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot sit and raise slogans at Raj Bhawan.

The Chief Minister had met Governor Kalraj Mishra this afternoon over the issue of the convening of the Assembly Session. pic.twitter.com/m6XhwwMuM2

— ANI (@ANI) July 24, 2020

Even though there’s no clarity over the number of MLAs who visited there, reports suggest it could be well above 100, the strength required to prove majority in the state. According to reports, the governor even had to come out and request the MLAs to stop sloganeering, saying that the slogans were disrupting his meeting with Gehlot.

The political storm in the state intensified on Friday with the Rajasthan High Court granting sacked deputy chief Sachin Pilot and his 18 loyalist legislators a further reprieve against the disqualification notices served on them, and an enraged Gehlot slamming the governor for allegedly not keeping his request of calling the Assembly session.

The high court on Friday further deferred its verdict in the petition filed by Pilot and the 18 rebel Congress MLAs against the disqualification notices after the latter urged the court to make the Centre a party to the case. The Congress had sought action against Pilot and the other dissidents under paragraph 2 (1) (a) of the 10th Schedule of the Constitution.

Gehlot accused Governor Mishra on Friday of being under pressure to not call an assembly session. He said the state government requested the governor to call a session, but he had not yet issued the order. “We want an assembly session from Monday,” the chief minister told reporters outside the hotel where the legislators supporting him are camping.

Related news: Can prove majority, will convene Assembly soon: Gehlot to Governor

“The governor is not giving orders for calling assembly session under pressure.” After the recent cabinet meeting, the chief minister said that the governor was requested through a letter to hold assembly session to discuss political situation, review coronavirus pandemic, and its effects on the state’s economic situation.

“We hoped that the governor would issue an order to call assembly session yesterday night itself. I waited overnight but still there is no reply from his side,” he said. “It is beyond our comprehension because simple procedures are adopted. The governor has to give orders. There is no reason for him to stop.” said Gehlot.

Gehlot said the governor was holding a constitutional post and he should immediately take a decision to maintain the dignity of post. “Otherwise, all our MLAs will come to Raj Bhawan and collectively request you please give your decision immediately,” he said. After speaking to the media, Gehlot called for party’s legislature meeting in the hotel.

(With inputs from agencies)