Gehlot may take a trust vote soon

The beleaguered Ashok Gehlot government in Rajasthan might call a brief Assembly session in the coming week to prove its majority if the Rajasthan High Court gives a favourable verdict to former deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot and his supporting MLAs who have challenged their disqualification by Speaker C.P. Joshi.

On Saturday, Mr Gehlot had met governor Kalraj Mishra with a list of 102 MLAs supporting his government.

Congress leader Ajay Maken, who has been sent to Jaipur from Delhi to help tackle the situation, said in a press conference: “The decision on when and how the floor test will happen has to be taken by the Chief Minister and the government. It is the CM’s discretion to move forward when required, and if it is required.”

Sources, however, said the Assembly session may be held as early as this week after the court verdict.

In the 200-member Assembly, the Congress has 107 MLAs, including Mr Pilot and the 18 MLA loyal to him, who have rebelled against the chief minister. Speaker C.P. Joshi had earlier sent disqualification notices to the rebel MLAs, after which they moved the high court. The next hearing in the matter will be held on Monday.

The RLD, which has one MLA, is a Congress ally, while the ruling party also has the support of 10 of the 13 Independent MLAs. The government considers both MLAs of the CPI(M) as being on its side.

The Bhartiya Tribal Party, which has two MLAs, has announced support to the Gehlot government on Sunday.