Ashok Gehlot claims the support of 102 MLAs in the 200-member assembly. (File photo)
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot chaired a cabinet meeting at his residence on Friday night. During the meeting that went on well past midnight, lasting for nearly two and half hours, the cabinet discussed the six points raised by the state Governor regarding calling as assembly session.
Governor Kalraj Mishra has not called the session despite requests from Mr Gehlot. On Friday, Mr Gehlot and over 100 MLAs supporting him protested for more than four hours at the Governor house, accusing him of sitting on the request of calling an assembly session because he was "under pressure" to stall a test of strength.
The governor, however, said he needed the state government's response on few points before making any announcement, claiming that Mr Gehlot had not given any "justification" or "agenda" for calling the session on such a short notice.
Ashok Gehlot, 69, is going all out for a test of strength after Sachin Pilot and other Congress rebels threatening his government scored a reprieve from the Rajasthan High Court on Friday.
The Congress has a narrow lead over the opposition and is only one past the majority mark of 101 in the 200-member Rajasthan assembly. Team Pilot claims the support of 30 MLAs, but so far, the evidence points to only 19. The BJP has 72. Including smaller parties and independent members, the opposition has 97 at the moment.
Here are the Live Updates on Rajasthan Political Crisis:
Rajasthan Governor Kalraj Mishra Takes On Congress: Not Told Assembly Session AgendaBombarded by the Congress for seemingly helping former Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot's revolt against the Ashok Gehlot government by stalling an assembly session, Rajasthan Governor Kalraj Mishra on Friday said that he will go by the constitution only."
