BSP tries to play spoiler, asks 'its MLAs' to vote against Cong

Gehlot now wants a session devoted to corona pandemic, no mention of floor test; Guv yet to respond

BSP supremo Mayawati has yet again sprung a surprise. Out of the blue, her party issued a whip to six of its MLAs in Rajasthan Assembly, directing them to vote against the Congress party, if a "no confidence motion" is tabled during the session.

In September 2019, all these six MLAs of the BSP had joined the Congress, helping it to touch a tally of 107 in a House of 200. But the BSP insists that all six of them, who were elected on the BSP's election symbol, are bound by the party whip and obliged to vote against the Congress government in the state.

A letter released on Sunday by the BSP states that it is a recognised national party; as such, there cannot be any merger at the state level at the instance of the six MLAs, unless there is a merger of the entire BSP everywhere at the national level, which "admittedly has not happened in the present case".

In another development, CM Ashok Gehlot submitted a fresh proposal to the Governor and asked him to convene an Assembly session from July 31. But this time, the agenda, he said, is coronavirus and passage of pending Bills; there was no mention of the much hyped floor test.

The government had sent a revised cabinet note late Saturday night to the Governor with answers to six of his queries. The Governor’s response is now awaited.

Incidentally, on Monday, the Supreme Court is expected to examine the issue of the power of Speaker and whether courts can make an intervention in the matter at this stage. The High Court has said the Speaker cannot take any action against Sachin Pilot and his rebel MLAs

until the larger constitutional question about his powers is decided by the SC. The Congress, it is learnt, is now divided on a petition expected to be heard alongside -- a challenge to the Rajasthan HC’s freeze order on the disqualification proceedings against Sachin Pilot. A section of the party prefers to pursue the matter politically and the decision has been left to the party’s high command, said NDTV sources. Congress is planning a countrywide protest and may petition the President. The party, however, said it will not hold a protest outside the Governor's House in Jaipur. A disqualification of the rebels before a trust vote will bring down the majority mark in the 200-member Rajasthan assembly. Gehlot claims he has the numbers, but if the mark stays at 101, his majority will be wafer-thin, leaving his govt vulnerable.