Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Thursday said an assembly session will be called soon and his government will prove its majority. "The session of the assembly will take place soon. The majority is with us, all Congress MLAs are united," he said. Former Congress MP and spokesperson Ajay Maken also said the party is confident of the numbers and will convene a session of the state assembly at an "opportune time" to prove its majority. Gehlot hoped that some of the dissident MLAs, who are led by sacked deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot, will also attend the session when it is called "very soon".
"Without them too, we have a full majority and will go to the House on the basis of this majority, and we will prove it," he said. Later on Thursday, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot also met Governor Kalraj Mishra at the Raj Bhawan in what was described as a "courtesy call" -- the 20-minute discussion revolved around the possibility of calling a session of the Vidhan Sabha, said Congress sources.
Rajasthan Congress Chief Govind Singh Dotasra also seconded Gehlot's statement, saying his party's government has the majority figure, which is far more than what is required. "The government has the majority figure... 100%... far more than the government requires," he said. To a question of holding an assembly session, Dotsara said, "We are ready. If our chief minister calls the House, we are ready for the floor test."
The indication that the Gehlot government is preparing for a floor test came a day ahead of the expected pronouncement of a high court order on the disqualification notices sent by the Speaker to the rebel MLAs. But any Rajasthan High Court order will be subject to the outcome of a petition by the Rajasthan Speaker that the Supreme Court is now hearing. The 19 dissident MLAs had filed a petition in the high court, challenging the disqualification notices.
Maken said the party does not need to wait for the Supreme Court verdict as far as the floor test is concerned as it has the majority number with it. He said a section within the party also feels that the floor test should be conducted after the court verdict with regard to the rebel Congress MLAs. Maken said there are two views within the party, with a section feeling they should wait for the high court decision and conduct a floor test once the decision comes on Friday so that no one has anything to wait for any court decision.
"But as far as the floor test is concerned, we are very confident that we will easily prove the majority mark. And there will be at least 15-20 members' difference between the MLAs, who are in favour of the government and those against the government," he added.
Asked when the assembly session would be convened, he said the same would be done "at an opportune time".