We have the majority in the state Assembly: CM Ashok Gehlot
JAIPUR : Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot, on Thursday, said that he has the majority in the state Assembly and added that he was not scared of raids by central agencies.
Gehlot also said that the alleged audiotapes released by the Congress party to establish that a BJP leader was attempting to topple the state government, were authentic. “Still, the first reaction always is ‘it wasn’t my voice’. They are also threatening people. Nothing is going to work. Satyamev Jayate,” Gehlot told reporters.
“If they think they don’t trust Rajasthan government, then they can send the audio-tapes to FSL agency in the US for a voice test. They should step forward and undergo a voice test. Union Ministers/MLAs/MPs give speeches so everyone knows it is their voice,” he further said. The rebel leaders and the BJP have alleged that tapes are not genuine and have been made to malign them.
Earlier today, Congress party’s special observer for the state, Ajay Maken also said that the government has the majority in the state and added that the ruling party has 15-20 MLAs more than the opposition.
Shortly after the Supreme Court refused to interfere in the Rajasthan High Court hearing on the plea by Sachin Pilot and 18 other MLAs, the Congress party indicated that it may seek a floor test. “Even the BJP is not demanding a floor test,” Maken said.
On Thursday, the apex court declined to accept the plea by Rajasthan Assembly Speaker CP Joshi, requesting SC to stay the Rajasthan High Court’s proceedings on the disqualification of MLAs by the Speaker.
Earlier this month, Pilot and 18 other MLAs of the Congress party were disqualified after they skipped Congress Legislative Party (CLP) meets. The group was disqualified by the Assembly Speaker. The disqualification notice was challenged by Pilot and other MLAs in the Rajasthan High Court.
Claiming that the tapes were fake and he was ready to face investigation, the Union minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said, “The audio doesn’t have my voice. If I am called for questioning, I will definitely go”.
Mr Pilot, who was dropped from the post of the Deputy Chief Minister and Congress chief in Rajasthan, has gone to court to challenge the party’s move to disqualify him and his loyalist MLAs in court. A verdict is expected tomorrow.
A verdict in Mr Pilot’s favour will place the Ashok Gehlot government in a precarious position in the 200-member assembly. Disqualification of Mr Pilot and his 18 rebel MLAs would bring down the majority mark and help it survive a trust vote.
(Bureau Report with Agency Inputs).
