Rajasthan government crisis LIVE updates: Congress seeks President’s intervention for Assembly session
Rajasthan government crisis LIVE updates: Congress seeks President’s intervention for Assembly session
Rajasthan Government crisis Today News Live Updates: Three former law ministers today wrote to the governor, saying the delay in holding the Assembly session has resulted in an avoidable constitutional crisis.
By: Express Web Desk | Jaipur, New Delhi |
Updated: July 28, 2020 9:17:24 am
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot with his former deputy Sachin Pilot.
Rajasthan Government crisis Live Updates: The Rajasthan Congress Legislature Party (CLP) Monday sent a memorandum to President Ram Nath Kovind, seeking his intervention in holding a session of the state assembly. In a CLP meeting, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot also said that he has spoken to Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the current political situation in the state. Earlier too, he had written a letter to the prime minister on the matter.
Stating that he was never against calling an Assembly session, Rajasthan Governor Kalraj Mishra Monday sought another cabinet proposal from the Gehlot government with clarification on three points. He said before any decision could be taken on convening an Assembly session, the government should give a 21-day notice period to the MLAs as it is difficult for them to appear in a short notice during the pandemic. He also mentioned certain conditions which are required to be followed if confidence voting is carried out and asked the government to specify how social distancing could be ensured during the session.
Taking a swipe at Mishra, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot earlier said he would respond to the Governor’s “six-page love letter” pertaining to the Assembly session by today evening. The remarks came hours after the Governor rejected the chief minister’s fresh proposal for a session on July 31.
Live Blog
Rajasthan Speaker withdraws plea in SC against HC order on rebel MLAs; Governor rejects CM Ashok Gehlot's fresh proposal for Assembly session. Get latest updates here.
09:17 (IST)28 Jul 2020
Rajasthan Assembly Speaker withdraws plea in SC against initial order of HC
The Supreme Court Monday allowed Rajasthan Assembly Speaker CP Joshi to withdraw his petition challenging the Rajasthan High Court order of July 21. The High Court had extended until July 24 the time given by the Speaker to 19 Congress rebel MLAs, seeking their response to the disqualification notices he had served.
The bench of Justices Arun Mishra, B R Gavai and Krishna Murari allowed the Speaker to withdraw his petition after senior advocate Kapil Sibal said the HC had subsequently passed a detailed order on July 24 in view of which the petitioner wanted to withdraw the challenge to the earlier order and take appropriate legal recourse against the later order.
07:50 (IST)28 Jul 2020
Kalraj Mishra stalls call for House session: Focus back on Governor’s role
Rajasthan Governor Kalraj Mishra’s refusal to accept the Ashok Gehlot government’s recommendation for convening a session of the Assembly, ostensibly to go for a trial of strength to checkmate the rebels led by Sachin Pilot, has once again brought into focus controversial decisions by Governors in formation and dismissal of state governments over the years.
Both the Congress and the BJP, when in power at the Centre, have been accused of misusing the office of the Governor for political purposes. And when in Opposition, both have alleged murder of democracy and the Constitution. The role of Governors in imposing President’s Rule in states dates as far back as 1959, when the E M S Namboodiripad government in Kerala was dismissed. The role of Governors in toppling one government and installing another is not new either: in 1967, West Bengal Governor Dharma Vira dismissed the Ajoy Mukherjee government and installed a Congress-supported government with P C Ghosh as Chief Minister.
22:27 (IST)27 Jul 2020
Congress holds nationwide protests
Upping the ante against BJP over the ongoing political tussle in Rajasthan, Congress workers across eight states protested in front of Raj Bhavans, claiming that the saffron party was trying to topple non-BJP governments. Protests were held by Congress state unites in Uttarakhand, Maharashtra, Bihar, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat and Delhi. Read full story here
(Photo: PTI)
21:08 (IST)27 Jul 2020
Rajasthan Governor helping BJP to overthrow elected government: Maharashtra Congress
Maharashtra Congress said: "In violation of the Constitution and democratic traditions, the Governor of Rajasthan is acting in a way that will help the BJP to overthrow the elected government. Today, under the leadership of state president Balasaheb Thorat, they staged an agitation against him at Raj Bhavan, Mumbai and protested against the BJP government and the governor."
संविधान आणि लोकशाही परंपरांना पायदळी तुडवत राजस्थानचे राज्यपाल लोकनियुक्त सरकार पाडण्यासाठी भाजपला मदत होईल अशा प्रकारे वागत आहेत. त्याच्या विरोधात आज प्रदेशाध्यक्ष बाळासाहेब थोरात यांच्या नेतृत्वाखाली राजभवन, मुंबई येथे आंदोलन करून भाजप सरकारचा आणि राज्यपालांचा निषेध केला. pic.twitter.com/KCxm5kI0gE
— Maharashtra Congress (@INCMaharashtra) July 27, 2020
20:20 (IST)27 Jul 2020
Gehlot govt crisis: Maha Cong protests in front of Raj Bhavan
Amid the crisis in the Ashok Gehlot government in Rajasthan, senior Maharashtra Congress leaders on Monday protested in front of Raj Bhavan in Mumbai claiming the Centre was trying to topple non-BJP governments. State ministers Balasaheb Thorat, Ashok Chavan and Varsha Gaikwad along with party workers shouted slogans against Rajasthan Governor Kalraj Mishra who they said had created an impasse by not convening the Assembly session to allow the Gehlot government to prove its majority. (PTI)
20:09 (IST)27 Jul 2020
Uttarakhand Congress shares video of march
Former Chief Minister Harish Rawat, Manish Khanduri and other Congress leaders march towards Dehradun Raj Bhavan under the leadership of PCC President Pritam Singh, against the BJP's alleged attempt to kill democracy in Rajasthan.
भारतीय जनता पार्टी द्वारा राजस्थान में लोकतंत्र की हत्या के प्रयास के विरोध में पीसीसी अध्यक्ष श्री प्रीतम सिंह के नेतृत्व में देहरादून राजभवन के घेराव को कूच करते पूर्व मुख्यमंत्री श्री हरीश रावत जी, श्री मनीष खंडूरी जी व अन्य नेतागण तथा कांग्रेसजन। #BJPdestroysDemocracypic.twitter.com/R5EMEraR6S
— Uttarakhand Congress (@INCUttarakhand) July 27, 2020
19:56 (IST)27 Jul 2020
Uttarakhand: Congress workers march to Raj Bhawan, sit on dharna
Congress workers on Monday marched to the Raj Bhawan here in protest against what the party termed as the Centre's conspiracy to dislodge non-BJP governments in the states. Led by PCC president Pritam Singh, Congress workers holding black umbrellas and stickers reading 'Save Democracy - Save the Constitution' marched to the Raj Bhawan but were not allowed to go beyond the police barricade at Hathi Barkala where they sat on a dharna. (PTI)
19:52 (IST)27 Jul 2020
Bihar Cong stages demonstration against Centre's 'anti- constitutional' action in Rajasthan
Bihar Congress leaders Monday staged a demonstration outside the Raj Bhavan in Patna against the Centre's "undemocratic and anti-constitutional" action of not allowing the Rajasthan government to convene a special session of the assembly. Led by Bihar Congress chief Madan Mohan Jha, party workers held a dharna. "The BJP is trying to disturb the Rajasthan government like it did in Madhya Pradesh. They are using money power and agencies like IT, CBI and ED to dislodge the elected government once again," PTI quoted Jha as saying.
मोदी सरकार देश के संविधान और प्रजातंत्र पर बार बार आक्रमण कर रही है ।राजस्थान में चुनी हुई सरकार को धन और सरकारी तंत्र के माध्यम से गिराने का प्रयास हो रहा है ।@INCBihar द्वारा इस के ख़िलाफ़ राजभवन के सामने धरना प्रदर्शन किया गया ।
— Dr. Madan Mohan Jha (@DrMadanMohanJha) July 27, 2020
19:43 (IST)27 Jul 2020
Want to discuss important matters including COVID-19 with opposition in Assembly: Avinash Pande
Rajasthan Government led by Ashok Gehlot is in majority and wants to convene State Assembly session. We want to discuss important matters including COVID19 with the opposition in the Assembly, said State Congress in-charge Avinash Pande
#Rajasthan Government led by Ashok Gehlot is in majority and wants to convene State Assembly session. We want to discuss important matters including #COVID19 with the opposition in the Assembly: State Congress in-charge Avinash Pande pic.twitter.com/o2zz4Sctl5
Conspiracy to topple elected govt in Rajasthan, murder democracy: UP Congress chief
Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Ajay Kumar Lallu, who was arrested while 'Speak up for Democracy' protest said the (central) government is conspiring to topple an elected government in Rajasthan, wants to murder the democracy. Watch the video in which he speaks before being bundled into a police van earlier today
— West Bengal Congress (@INCWestBengal) July 27, 2020
19:20 (IST)27 Jul 2020
Ashok Gehlot holds meeting on Covid situation via video link
Amid crisis in government, Ashok Gehlot held a meeting to discuss the situation of COVID-19 in Rajasthan through video conference with health minister, Principals of Medical Colleges, PMOs, CMHOs, doctors, experts and officials.
Holding a meeting to discuss the situation of #COVID__19 in state through video conference with health minister, Principals of Medical Colleges, PMOs, CMHOs, doctors, experts & officials. #Rajasthanpic.twitter.com/JCbAvxzH7G
Assembly session can be called at short notice, if agenda is floor test: Rajasthan Governor
Rajasthan Governor Kalraj Mishra indicated Monday that an assembly session can be called at a short notice if the state government says the agenda is to hold a floor test to prove its majority. The suggestion was one of the three points he mentioned in a note sent by Mishra while returning Ashok Gehlot Cabinet's recommendation to call a session, for a second time. The governor asked the state government to draft a fresh proposal, addressing those three points.
18:16 (IST)27 Jul 2020
TN Cong protests against BJP on Rajasthan power play
Congress leaders courted arrest when they attempted to take out a march to the Raj Bhavan here on Monday protesting against the BJP for allegedly trying to destabilise the Ashok Gehlotgovernment in Rajasthan. Party workers, led by Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) president K S Alagiri, raised slogans against the BJP alleging it was trying to 'purchase' MLAs to unseat the democratically electedCongress government in the western state. TNCC working presidents K Jayakumar, H Vasanthakumar and M K Vishnuprasad were among the leaders who participated in the protest, organised as part of the party's call for nation-wide agitation in a "Gandhian way" in front of Raj Bhavans for the protection of the Constitution and democracy. (PTI)
17:51 (IST)27 Jul 2020
Rajasthan crisis: Congress protest demonstration in front of Kolkata Raj Bhavan
Claiming that governors are nowadays acting as BJP agents in installing saffron party governments in the states ruled by parties opposed to it, West Bengal Congress workers staged a protest demonstration in front of the Raj Bhavan in Kolkata on Monday. Congress activists, as part of a nationwide "Speak up for democracy" protest by the party, staged a sit-in demonstration before the north gate of the Raj Bhavan, shouting slogans against governors in different states and the BJP.
17:47 (IST)27 Jul 2020
UP Cong chief Ajay Lallu, RS MP PL Punia arrested during protest outside Lucknow Raj Bhavan
Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Ajay Kumar Lallu, Rajya Sabha MP P L Punia and other party leaders were arrested on Monday when they were protesting outside the Raj Bhavan in Lucknow over alleged attempts by the BJP to topple the state government in Rajasthan, the party's media convener Lalan Kumar said. Police sources told PTI that Lallu and others were arrested after they reached the Raj Bhavan and squatted on the road. They have been taken to Eco Garden, PTI reported.Read full story here
17:42 (IST)27 Jul 2020
Have written to Prez, spoken with PM on current political situation in Rajasthan: CM to Cong MLAs
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has written to President Ram Nath Kovind and spoken with Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the present crisis in the state. "The chief minister told that he has spoken to the prime minister and apprised him of the current political situation in the state," PTI quoted a Congress leader as saying after a meeting at a hotel where MLAs are staying following rebellion by Sachin Pilot against the Gehlot government.
17:18 (IST)27 Jul 2020
Rajasthan Governor asks govt to deliberate on three points
Stating that he was never against calling an Assembly session, Rajasthan Governor Kalraj Mishra Monday put forward three points for the governor to deliberate upon. He said before any decision could be taken on convening an Assembly session, the government should give a 21-day notice period to the MLAs as it is difficult for them to appear in a short notice during the pandemic. He also mentioned certain conditions which are required to be followed if confidence voting is carried out and asked the government to specify how social distancing could be ensured during the session.
16:03 (IST)27 Jul 2020
Former Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah, other Congress party leaders protest
Former Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah, state Congress Chief DK Shivakumar and other party leaders stage a protest after they were stopped by police on their way. They were holding a rally from KPCC office to Raj Bhawan in Bengaluru under the campaign 'Speak Up for Democracy'.
Karnataka: Former CM Siddaramaiah, State Congress Chief DK Shivakumar & other party leaders stage a protest after they were stopped by police on their way.
They were holding a rally from KPCC office to Raj Bhawan in Bengaluru under the campaign 'Speak Up for Democracy'. pic.twitter.com/pL52ImO58M
Governor must remember he has no master other than Constitution, law: Chidambaram
Chdiambaram said that the Rajasthan Governor must remember that he has no master other than the Constitution and the law. "We sincerely hope that the Governor of Rajasthan will obey the law — and only the law. He must remember that he has no other masters except the Constitution and the law. He must immediately grant the request of the Council of Ministers and summon a session of the legislative assembly," Chidambaram said.
CM Ashok Gehlot walks out of Raj Bhavan with his supporters in Jaipur Friday.
The Governor had in the past returned an earlier recommendation by the government, asking for clarifications on six specific points. "The governor has returned the file to the state government with some queries. The matter is being examined," government sources told news agency PTI.
Earlier in the day, the Supreme Court allowed Assembly Speaker C P Joshi to withdraw its petition, challenging the High Court's refusal to initiate disqualification proceedings against former deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot and 18 rebel MLAs.
Meanwhile, three former law ministers wrote to the governor, saying the delay in holding the Assembly session has resulted in an avoidable constitutional crisis. "Having served as Union ministers of Law and Justice in different periods of time and as students of Constitutional law, we are of the clear view that established legal position obliges the Governor to call the assembly session in accordance with the advice of the state cabinet," senior Congress leaders and former law ministers Ashwani Kumar, Kapil Sibal and Salman Khurshid said.
In New Delhi, the Congress accused the Governor of acting in a partisan and “motivated” manner. The queries that Mishra had raised “reflected a sorry state of affairs of obfuscation, obstruction and dilatory tactics on flimsy, frivolous, and non-jurisdictional grounds”, Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi said at a press conference.
The Gehlot government, which faces a challenge from former deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot and 18 MLAs loyal to him, wants a floor test so that it can prove its majority, and be spared of another count in the Assembly for the next six months.
A successful floor test will also allow the Congress to let its ministers and MLAs out of Jaipur’s Fairmont hotel and resort, where they have been kept for two weeks now. While seeking a session of the Assembly, the second recommendation of the cabinet did not, however, make a specific mention of a floor test.
After the Governor did not act on the cabinet’s original recommendation on Thursday, Gehlot had accused him of acting under “pressure from above”, and had led a protest of his MLAs at Raj Bhavan. The protest was called off after an “assurance” by the Governor who, however, asked for the government’s response on six points.
Mishra said the cabinet note had not mentioned the date from which the session was to be called. No reason had been given for calling the session at short notice, and no agenda had been proposed. A 21-day notice is normally required to call a session, Mishra said, and also sought details on logistics of holding the session in the middle of the pandemic. The Governor also sought clarification on the reason for calling the session if the government indeed has a majority.
Singhvi countered each of these queries.
He rejected as absurd the Governor’s reference to the fact that cases related to disqualification of some MLAs were pending in the Supreme Court and the Rajasthan High Court. “Whether the Assembly Speaker disqualifies or does not do so, cannot, per se, affect the holding of a session or a numbers test on the floor of the House. Whether the apex court or the High Court decides one way or another, it cannot affect the calling of a session or the exercise of power of Governor under Article 174, which, obviously, does not arise before either the Speaker or the two courts,” he said.
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot with his former deputy Sachin Pilot.
CM Ashok Gehlot walks out of Raj Bhavan with his supporters in Jaipur Friday.
The Supreme Court Monday allowed Rajasthan Assembly Speaker CP Joshi to withdraw his petition challenging the Rajasthan High Court order of July 21. The High Court had extended until July 24 the time given by the Speaker to 19 Congress rebel MLAs, seeking their response to the disqualification notices he had served.
The bench of Justices Arun Mishra, B R Gavai and Krishna Murari allowed the Speaker to withdraw his petition after senior advocate Kapil Sibal said the HC had subsequently passed a detailed order on July 24 in view of which the petitioner wanted to withdraw the challenge to the earlier order and take appropriate legal recourse against the later order.
Rajasthan Governor Kalraj Mishra’s refusal to accept the Ashok Gehlot government’s recommendation for convening a session of the Assembly, ostensibly to go for a trial of strength to checkmate the rebels led by Sachin Pilot, has once again brought into focus controversial decisions by Governors in formation and dismissal of state governments over the years.
Both the Congress and the BJP, when in power at the Centre, have been accused of misusing the office of the Governor for political purposes. And when in Opposition, both have alleged murder of democracy and the Constitution. The role of Governors in imposing President’s Rule in states dates as far back as 1959, when the E M S Namboodiripad government in Kerala was dismissed. The role of Governors in toppling one government and installing another is not new either: in 1967, West Bengal Governor Dharma Vira dismissed the Ajoy Mukherjee government and installed a Congress-supported government with P C Ghosh as Chief Minister.
Upping the ante against BJP over the ongoing political tussle in Rajasthan, Congress workers across eight states protested in front of Raj Bhavans, claiming that the saffron party was trying to topple non-BJP governments. Protests were held by Congress state unites in Uttarakhand, Maharashtra, Bihar, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat and Delhi. Read full story here
Maharashtra Congress said: "In violation of the Constitution and democratic traditions, the Governor of Rajasthan is acting in a way that will help the BJP to overthrow the elected government. Today, under the leadership of state president Balasaheb Thorat, they staged an agitation against him at Raj Bhavan, Mumbai and protested against the BJP government and the governor."
Amid the crisis in the Ashok Gehlot government in Rajasthan, senior Maharashtra Congress leaders on Monday protested in front of Raj Bhavan in Mumbai claiming the Centre was trying to topple non-BJP governments. State ministers Balasaheb Thorat, Ashok Chavan and Varsha Gaikwad along with party workers shouted slogans against Rajasthan Governor Kalraj Mishra who they said had created an impasse by not convening the Assembly session to allow the Gehlot government to prove its majority. (PTI)
Former Chief Minister Harish Rawat, Manish Khanduri and other Congress leaders march towards Dehradun Raj Bhavan under the leadership of PCC President Pritam Singh, against the BJP's alleged attempt to kill democracy in Rajasthan.
Congress workers on Monday marched to the Raj Bhawan here in protest against what the party termed as the Centre's conspiracy to dislodge non-BJP governments in the states. Led by PCC president Pritam Singh, Congress workers holding black umbrellas and stickers reading 'Save Democracy - Save the Constitution' marched to the Raj Bhawan but were not allowed to go beyond the police barricade at Hathi Barkala where they sat on a dharna. (PTI)
Bihar Congress leaders Monday staged a demonstration outside the Raj Bhavan in Patna against the Centre's "undemocratic and anti-constitutional" action of not allowing the Rajasthan government to convene a special session of the assembly. Led by Bihar Congress chief Madan Mohan Jha, party workers held a dharna. "The BJP is trying to disturb the Rajasthan government like it did in Madhya Pradesh. They are using money power and agencies like IT, CBI and ED to dislodge the elected government once again," PTI quoted Jha as saying.
Rajasthan Government led by Ashok Gehlot is in majority and wants to convene State Assembly session. We want to discuss important matters including COVID19 with the opposition in the Assembly, said State Congress in-charge Avinash Pande
Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Ajay Kumar Lallu, who was arrested while 'Speak up for Democracy' protest said the (central) government is conspiring to topple an elected government in Rajasthan, wants to murder the democracy. Watch the video in which he speaks before being bundled into a police van earlier today
'Speak up for democracy' protest in front of Raj Bhavan in Kolkata.
Amid crisis in government, Ashok Gehlot held a meeting to discuss the situation of COVID-19 in Rajasthan through video conference with health minister, Principals of Medical Colleges, PMOs, CMHOs, doctors, experts and officials.
Rajasthan Governor Kalraj Mishra indicated Monday that an assembly session can be called at a short notice if the state government says the agenda is to hold a floor test to prove its majority. The suggestion was one of the three points he mentioned in a note sent by Mishra while returning Ashok Gehlot Cabinet's recommendation to call a session, for a second time. The governor asked the state government to draft a fresh proposal, addressing those three points.
Congress leaders courted arrest when they attempted to take out a march to the Raj Bhavan here on Monday protesting against the BJP for allegedly trying to destabilise the Ashok Gehlotgovernment in Rajasthan. Party workers, led by Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) president K S Alagiri, raised slogans against the BJP alleging it was trying to 'purchase' MLAs to unseat the democratically electedCongress government in the western state. TNCC working presidents K Jayakumar, H Vasanthakumar and M K Vishnuprasad were among the leaders who participated in the protest, organised as part of the party's call for nation-wide agitation in a "Gandhian way" in front of Raj Bhavans for the protection of the Constitution and democracy. (PTI)
Claiming that governors are nowadays acting as BJP agents in installing saffron party governments in the states ruled by parties opposed to it, West Bengal Congress workers staged a protest demonstration in front of the Raj Bhavan in Kolkata on Monday. Congress activists, as part of a nationwide "Speak up for democracy" protest by the party, staged a sit-in demonstration before the north gate of the Raj Bhavan, shouting slogans against governors in different states and the BJP.
Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Ajay Kumar Lallu, Rajya Sabha MP P L Punia and other party leaders were arrested on Monday when they were protesting outside the Raj Bhavan in Lucknow over alleged attempts by the BJP to topple the state government in Rajasthan, the party's media convener Lalan Kumar said. Police sources told PTI that Lallu and others were arrested after they reached the Raj Bhavan and squatted on the road. They have been taken to Eco Garden, PTI reported.Read full story here
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has written to President Ram Nath Kovind and spoken with Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the present crisis in the state. "The chief minister told that he has spoken to the prime minister and apprised him of the current political situation in the state," PTI quoted a Congress leader as saying after a meeting at a hotel where MLAs are staying following rebellion by Sachin Pilot against the Gehlot government.
Stating that he was never against calling an Assembly session, Rajasthan Governor Kalraj Mishra Monday put forward three points for the governor to deliberate upon. He said before any decision could be taken on convening an Assembly session, the government should give a 21-day notice period to the MLAs as it is difficult for them to appear in a short notice during the pandemic. He also mentioned certain conditions which are required to be followed if confidence voting is carried out and asked the government to specify how social distancing could be ensured during the session.
Former Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah, state Congress Chief DK Shivakumar and other party leaders stage a protest after they were stopped by police on their way. They were holding a rally from KPCC office to Raj Bhawan in Bengaluru under the campaign 'Speak Up for Democracy'.
Chdiambaram said that the Rajasthan Governor must remember that he has no master other than the Constitution and the law. "We sincerely hope that the Governor of Rajasthan will obey the law — and only the law. He must remember that he has no other masters except the Constitution and the law. He must immediately grant the request of the Council of Ministers and summon a session of the legislative assembly," Chidambaram said.