After the Supreme Court refused to interfere with the Rajasthan High Court hearing the plea of 19 rebels MLAs, led by former Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot, against a disqualification notice, the Congress is contemplating to go in for a floor test in the Assembly to establish its majority.
“Congress has a majority in the state and we have no doubt about it… we have 15 to 20 MLAs more than the opposition,” said party’s special observer for the state, Ajay Maken.
Addressing a press conference, he said that the “battle of Rajasthan is a political one and not legal”, while claiming that “these days, we don’t expect a judgement favourable for us”.
Maken said that the state government headed by Ashok Gehlot may seek a floor test as there are two views in the party, with one holding that the party should wait for the High Court judgement but the other group wanting to go for a floor test, as if it proves its majority, no one can shake it for the next six months.
“Even the BJP is not demanding a floor test,” he said, while slamming the Pilot camp for saying that the Gehlot government has lost its majority.
Maken said that the party has been repeatedly appealing to the Pilot camp to attend the CLP meet “but they are hobnobbing with the BJP”. “The raids on the Chief Minister’s brother proves this and the hospitality being taken in Haryana is a witness to their playing into the BJP’s hands.”
The Congress leader also said that the leaked audio clips of a Union Minister also shows that the BJP has a hand in the Rajasthan crisis.
The Supreme Court on Thursday declined to accede to the Rajasthan Assembly Speaker’s request to stay the High Court proceedings on Sachin Pilot and MLAs’ petition against his notice, seeking to know why they should not be disqualified.
The apex court also allowed the High Court to pass an order on the matter on Friday, but said that it will be subject to the outcome of the proceedings in the top court.
