Rajasthan Governor Returns Gehlot Cabinet's Proposal For Assembly Session Citing Rising Covid Cases

Rajasthan Governor Kalraj Mishra on Wednesday returned Ashok Gehlot cabinet's proposal for convening an Assembly session, citing rising coronavirus cases in the state. This is the third time that Mishra has rejected Gehlot cabinet's proposal for an Assembly session.

Mishra asked Gehlot cabinet how he can allow the session to be convened when the state has nearly 40,000 Covid-19 cases. How will the government ensure social distancing in the Assembly, he asked.

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Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot had earlier met Mishra amid the impasse over calling a session of the state assembly. The meeting, the second in recent days, lasted for about 15 minutes.

Mishra on Monday had agreed to summon assembly session if Gehlot government agrees on giving a 21-day notice.

Although Mishra is bound to accept Gehlot government's recommendation for convening an Assembly session, he had stopped short of expressly granting a time and date. No warrant for convening a session had been issued by the Raj Bhavan either. 

"Not convening the Assembly was never the intention," the Governor's office had said.

At an event earlier in the day, Gehlot told party MLAs that he will meet the Governor again over summoning the session.

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The state cabinet on Tuesday sent for the third time a proposal on the session to the Governor.

A Raj Bhawan spokesperson described Wednesday’s meeting as a courtesy call.