Ashok Gehlot enjoys the support of 125 MLAs with thereturn of Sachin Pilot. (File photo)
New Delhi/Jaipur:
The Ashok Gehlot-led Congress government is expected to go for a trust vote to prove its majority in the Rajasthan Assembly today. The Congress announced the decision soon after the BJP, in a surprise move, said that it will a no-confidence motion against the Congress government in the special assembly session.
Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot had planned a trust vote for days, even when he was reduced to a wafer-thin majority of 102 following revolt of Sachin Pilot. Winning the vote will give him a six-month reprieve.
The BJP has 72 MLAs and the support of three more. Six MLAs who shifted from Mayawati’s party to the Congress have been asked by the former party to vote against the Ashok Gehlot government.
But the numbers are hardly enough to challenge Mr Gehlot, who enjoys the support of 125 MLAs with the return of Sachin Pilot.
Sources say the BJP’s move is more of a strategy to force a discussion in the assembly to corner the Gehlot government on various issues.
Till now, the BJP had always distanced itself from the Congress crisis and had denied that it would move a no-confidence motion against the state government.
Here are the updates on Rajasthan political crisis:
As the Legislative Assembly session begins today, It would be the victory of the people of #Rajasthan and the unity of our Congress MLAs, it would be a victory of truth: Satyamev Jayate.
– Ashok Gehlot (@ashokgehlot51) August 14, 2020
Ashok Gehlot will call for a trust vote in the special assembly session that begins today, a day after his patch-up with sacked deputy Sachin Pilot, who ended his month-long rebellion against the Rajasthan Chief Minister earlier this week. The Congress’s trust vote move is a counter to the opposition BJP’s plan to ask for a no-confidence motion against the Gehlot government, a surprise decision that, sources say, is largely symbolic. Read Here
Six MLAs who shifted from Mayawati’s party to the Congress in Rajasthan have been asked by the former party to vote against the Ashok Gehlot government during the trust vote, which, sources said, is likely to be held today. The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) on Thursday issued a whip to the party leaders, warning them that they will face action if they defy the order. Read Here
According to sources, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot will call for a trust vote to prove his strength in the House. Mr Gehlot had planned a trust vote for days, even when he had a wafer-thin majority of 102, just one more than the majority mark in the 200-member Rajasthan assembly. Winning the vote will give him a six-month reprieve.
With the return of Sachin Pilot, whose rebellion had briefly endangered the Congress government, Mr Gehlot has the support of 125 MLAs.
The Ashok Gehlot had said they would like to discuss coronavirus crisis and the economic effects of the lockdown while urging the Governor to call for an assembly session.
Rajasthan Assembly seesion will begin at 11 am today. The days agenda will be decided in a businesses advisory committee which will meet at 10 am.
