Congress MLAs in the Ashok Gehlot camp on Friday ended a five-hour dharna at the Raj Bhawan after Governor Kalraj Mishra assured that he will abide by the constitution. Mishra, however, wanted the government’s clarification on some points before he makes the announcement, Congress leaders said as they emerged from the Raj Bhawan.
Congress leader Randeep Surjewala said these points will be taken care of at a Cabinet meeting Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has called.
"Rajasthan Governor has given assurance that he will abide by the Constitution, take decision without any pressure," Surjewala said.
The MLAs went to the Raj Bhawan in the afternoon, complaining that the Governor was sitting on letter that the Cabinet had sent seeking an assembly session on Monday.
"I am sure that Governor will not come under any pressure, he will make a decision. We hope the Assembly session begins soon. So we are sitting here in protest. After he gives us a letter we will decide the further course of action," Gehlot said.
"Governor is our constitutional head. I don't hesitate to say that he couldn't have stopped it (Assembly Session) without some pressure from the top. Why did he not decide yesterday? We've requested him again to make a decision soon. People are waiting," he added.
The MLAs, led by Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, arrived there in four buses from a hotel on the city outskirts where they have been camping for the past few days. Before heading for the Raj Bhawan, Gehlot said he had requested Governor Kalraj Mishra on Thursday to call a session of the assembly on Monday.
During a meeting, Gehlot reportedly told Governor Mishra that he was not asking for a special assembly session "only for a floor test" but a full session to discuss other issues like Coronavirus crisis, state's finances, east Rajasthan Canal Project, etc.
On his part, the Governor told Congress MLAs that he is seeking legal advice on how to proceed with the demand for assembly session "since the matter is sub judice both in Rajasthan HC and the Supreme Court".
At the Raj Bhawan, while Gehlot met the Governor inside, the MLAs squatted on the lawns, at time shouting slogans in support of the Gehlot-led Congress government.
Earlier in the day, Gehlot alleged the Governor was under pressure to not call an Assembly session.
The CM had warned that if the assembly session is denied, “he should not be held responsible if people gherao the Raj Bhavan.”
Saying that the party has a clear majority, Gehlot accused the BJP of trying to destabilise the government. "This whole game is a BJP conspiracy. The people of Rajasthan, the MLAs are all with us. We are facing a crisis because of Corona. We have tried to work together with everyone, including the opposition. Yet, during such a crisis, this conspiracy is being hatched," he said.
Reacting to Gehlot's warning about protests, Satish Poonia, Rajasthan BJP chief and MLA from Amber, said, "Why is the CM threatening a gherao of the Raj Bhavan. Governments come in a minority all the time. The CM should show some patience and also exercise restraint in his statements. He should set his house in order first then blame others."
The Congress held a legislative party meeting at Fairmont where Gehlot told MLAs that under no condition will he allow the government to fall. "BJP's conspiracy will not succeed. We will explore every available option to ensure that a democratically elected government is not toppled through unfair, corrupt means employed by the BJP," he said.
(With PTI Inputs)
