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Gehlot’s strategy works, Governor gives nod to Assembly session on 14 Aug

In a crucial development in the ongoing Rajasthan political drama, Governor Kalraj Mishra on Wednesday night issued an order to convene the Assembly session from 14 August. With this development, the Congress’ two-pronged strategy for an Assembly session has succeeded despite Governor Mishra seemingly not ready to budge an inch. The Governor, in his order, […]

In a crucial development in the ongoing Rajasthan political drama, Governor Kalraj Mishra on Wednesday night issued an order to convene the Assembly session from 14 August. With this development, the Congress’ two-pronged strategy for an Assembly session has succeeded despite Governor Mishra seemingly not ready to budge an inch.

The Governor, in his order, has also directed that all measures should be taken during the session, as per the guidelines issued to prevent the spread of Covid-19. The order for convening the Assembly was issued after repeated requests by Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot.

 Earlier in the day, the Gehlot-led government had sent another proposal to the Governor, seeking to convene the Assembly session, said Rajasthan minister Pratap Khachariyawas. “We have again sent a proposal to Governor Kalraj Mishra seeking to convene the Assembly session. We hope that the Governor will accept the proposal this time and announce the date to begin the session soon,” Khachariyawas had told reporters.

This was the fourth proposal which has been sent to Mishra by the Gehlot government. Earlier in the day, the Governor has asked the state government to deliberate on the need for the 21-day notice period and maintain social distancing norms in case confidence motion is moved while returning the third proposal sent by Gehlot to convene an Assembly session. Mishra had on 27 July said that Raj Bhavan had never intended “not to call” the Assembly session and asked the Gehlot government to deliberate on three points including a 21- day notice period for convening a session and maintaining social distancing norms. He had said the statements from the state government make it clear that it wants to bring a trust vote but there is no mention of it in the proposal sent for convening the session.

The Congress had been working on a two-pronged strategy. On the one hand, Speaker C.P. Joshi had challenged the High Court verdict in Supreme Court in which the HC had ordered status quo with regard to rebel MLAs. On the other hand, CM Gehlot accepted the offer of the Governor to convene a session of the Assembly on notice of 21 days. August 14 had been given as the new date to convene the session that is 21 days after the first proposal of 24 July.

Sources say the Governor was left with no option but to accept CM Gehlot’s request. Any further hurdles would have left the Congress with no option but to hit the road. It goes without saying that the BJP expected the Governor to buy more time so that the Congress couldn’t keep its flock together. This way, Sachin Pilot would have got the opportunity to lure some Congress fence-sitters.

On another count too, the BJP has not been on solid ground. While the Governor had been returning proposals on the pretext of corona, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has admired the work of Gehlot as far as dealing with the pandemic is concerned. The Congress had planned to launch a massive dharna if this proposal was turned down. Sonia Gandhi had planned to meet the President in such a case. Meanwhile, the Congress’ upbeat attitude got reflected in the mood of party leaders when new Rajasthan chief Govind Singh Dotasara took over the party›s charge. The leaders have appealed to the MLAs of the Sachin Pilot camp to come back. However, nobody went to meet them at Manesar.

With inputs from agencies

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