Rajasthan Political Crisis LIVE Updates: All Eyes on Gehlot’s Next Move as Governor Gives Go-ahead to Assembly Session But Conditions Apply

Avinash Pande on Rajasthan Crisis | Congress general secretary Avinash Pandey said the Congress will use all available democratic means to resolve the current political deadlock in the state. "We will use all the Gandhian weapons of democracy in a peaceful manner," Pande said at a press conference.

''Rebel MLAs in Touch With Congress Leaders' | Congress general secretary Avinash Pande on Monday claimed that many among the 19 rebel MLAs, led by ousted deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot, was in touch with the party leaders. Pandey, also the party's state's in charge, said the Congress will use all available democratic means to resolve the current political deadlock in the state.

Congress Protests Against BJP 'Toppling Govts' | The Congress on Monday staged protests outside Raj Bhawans across the country against what it called the BJP's attempts to topple state governments led by opposition parties. Congress general secretary K C Venugopal alleged the BJP was using "money power and intimidation" in its bid to topple governments in states.

Rajasthan HC Dismisses BJP MLA's Plea | The Rajasthan High Court on Monday dismissed a plea of a BJP MLA questioning the alleged inaction of the state assembly Speaker on his complaint challenging his decision to allow the merger of all six BSP MLAs with the Congress in 2019. A bench of Justice Mahendra Kumar Goyal dismissed the BJP MLA Madan Dilawar's plea as "having become infructuous" after the legislator's counsel Harish Salve told the court that his client was informed by the Speaker's secretariat that an order dismissing his complaint has been passed.

Petition Filed in HC for Removal of Mishra as Governor | A city-based lawyer has filed a petition in the Rajasthan High Court seeking directions to the central government to advise the President to remove Governor Kalraj Mishra. The petitioner, Shantanu Pareek, claimed that the governor has failed to fulfil his constitutional obligations by not calling a session of the Assembly as recommended by the state cabinet.

Accordingly, the governor has returned the revised Cabinet recommendations for calling the session and suggested the government to act on three suggestions, including a 21-day notice for calling it.

'How Will Social Distancing Be Fulfilled?' | The governor also asked the government to clarify how the social distancing norms would be fulfilled during the session. Mishra said as per his knowledge, the seating arrangements for 200 MLAs and 1,000 employees are not in such a manner that social distancing norms can be fulfilled whereas the government guidelines and provisions of Disaster Management Act are required to be followed to contain the spread of the pandemicto Mishra on Saturday night for calling the assembly session from July 31.

'Video Recording of Assembly Proceeding' | The second suggestion is about the video recording the assembly proceeding and the live streaming of the process of the floor test if it happens. The entire process of the floor test should be held in the presence of the principal secretary of the Parliamentary Affairs Department and through "Yes" and "No" buttons only, the release said.

'21-Day Notice' | The governor said the assembly session should be called after giving a 21-day notice so that equality to all as per the Article 14 of the Constitution can be ensured, the official said. He also suggested that a healthy debate on important social and political issues can be held online as well, as the Supreme court and high courts are doing to avoid the spread of Covid-19.

Rajasthan Govenor on Vote of Confidence | "If the government wants to win a vote of confidence, then it can become a reasonable ground for calling the assembly session on short notice," the statement by Raj Bhawan added. It further quoted the governor as observing that the revised Cabinet recommendations sent by the government do not mention seeking a vote of confidence as the purpose for calling the session but it is clear from the statements in the media that the government wants to go for it.

Rajasthan Governor Seeks New Cabinet Proposal | Conceding that securing a vote of confidence can be a reasonable ground for calling an assembly session on short notice, Rajasthan Governor Kalraj Mishra on Monday returned the Cabinet recommendation and sought another, incorporating a 21-day notice period for calling the session for a floor test, a Raj Bhawan statement said.