Jaipur: Congress MLAs in the Ashok Gehlot camp on Friday ended a five-hour dharna at the Raj Bhavan after an assurance from the Governor that he will go by the constitutional provisions on summoning an assembly session, a party leader said.
The governor, however, wanted the state government's clarification on some points before he makes the announcement, according to a Congress leader.
The Governor assured that he will abide by Article 174 of the Constitution, Congress leader Randeep Surjewala told reporters.
The Article deals with the Governor's role in summoning a session of the state assembly.
Outside the Raj Bhawan, AICC spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said the Governor has given a note to Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot seeking clarifications.
Surjewala said these points will be taken care of at a Cabinet meeting Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot is calling at 9:30pm.
The MLAs went to the Raj Bhawan in the afternoon, complaining that the Governor was sitting on letter that the Cabinet had sent seeking an assembly session on Monday.
"The Governor informed that he will abide by the Constitution and will take a decision without being under any pressure. Surjewala said.
He said that after the Cabinet gives the clarification to the queries, the Governor will be duty-bound to abide by Article 174.
We believe in the assurance given by the Governor, he said.
Reprieve for Pilot
Gehlot is going all out for a test of strength in the Assembly after the Rajasthan High Court ordered maintaining status quo on disqualification notices issued by the assembly speaker to 19 dissident Congress MLAs, including Sachin Pilot.
The notices were served by the assembly speaker to the MLAs on July 14 after the party complained to him that the legislators had defied a whip to attend two Congress Legislature Party meetings last week.
The Congress had sought action against Pilot and the other dissidents under paragraph 2 (1) (a) of the 10th Schedule of the Constitution.
The provision disqualifies MLAs if they "voluntarily" give up the membership of the party which they represent in the House.
The Pilot camp, however, argued that a party whip applies only when the assembly is in session.
The dissident MLAs challenged the notices through the writ petition which was taken up by the bench on Friday last week and arguments were held.
Pilot was sacked as the deputy chief minister and the president of the party's state unit after he rebelled against Gehlot.
(With inputs from PTI)
