No urgency in Raj Speaker’s plea?

The Constitution is supreme for a governor. There is no pressure on me — Kalraj Mishra, Raj Guv

There seems no urgency in the petition filed before the Supreme Court on Wednesday by Rajasthan Assembly Speaker C P Joshi, challenging the High Court order last Friday, directing him to maintain a "status quo" and not proceed with the disqualification petition of the Congress pending before him to remove rebel leader Sachin Pilot and 18 supporting MLAs.

No mention was made on Thursday for taking up the petition urgently and as such it is not listed in the cause list for Friday, the last day of the week in the Apex Court, which will next hold sitting only on Tuesday as it is closed Saturday, Sunday and also on Monday on account of Raksha Bandhan.

Since the Governor has agreed to summon the Assembly on August 14, the Speaker was advised not to push for a Supreme Court direction to proceed with the disqualification process. The rebels will be automatically disqualified if they defy the whip issued by the party on voting during the session. The Congress has not expelled them so far since they would otherwise become independent MLAs not bound by the party whip.

Efforts are still on within the party by its senior lead

ers for a patch-up between Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and Pilot, though no indications have yet come from the Pilot group to yield or state its demands for ending the political crisis in the state.

Meanwhile, Rajasthan Governor Kalraj Mishra refuted allegations that he had acted under the Central government's pressure in the political tussle.