Rajasthan Governor Kalraj Mishra has sought clarifications from the state government as he returned the proposal by chief minister Ashok Gehlot for the convening of the assembly session from July 31.

Officials had said earlier in the day that Mishra had asked for additional details from the government as he gave the file back to the parliamentary affairs department.

Mishra, according to news agency ANI, has asked whether chief minister Ashok Gehlot wants a trust vote in the state assembly.

“Do you want to move Motion of Confidence? It is not mentioned in the proposal but you have been speaking about it in media,” the governor was quoted as saying by ANI.

He also said it would be difficult to call all the members of legislative assembly (MLAs) at a short notice during the coronavirus pandemic.

“Can you consider giving a 21-day notice over the convening of assembly session?” was his second poser, reported ANI.

Mishra has not taken any decision yet on calling the assembly session, people aware of the development added.

The Congress party has been demanding a special session amid the political crisis due to a rebellion by Sachin Pilot and a section of Congress legislators supporting the former deputy chief minister.

The Gehlot camp, which is confident of its numbers and feels a floor test may be its best bet to end the political crisis, has said the governor is delaying convening a session due to pressure from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led central government.

Before this, Ashok Gehlot had requested Mishra to start a session of the state assembly to discuss bills, including one on the coronavirus pandemic, without mentioning a floor test.

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Gehlot had in a reworked proposal asked him to start a session of the state assembly from July 31.

Mishra has denied the Congress’ charge, saying he will follow constitutional norms to convene the House.

The governor had turned down the earlier proposal sent by the Congress government and said that it did not mention a date or a reason.

Meanwhile, Rajasthan assembly Speaker CP Joshi withdrew his plea before the Supreme Court which had challenged the Rajasthan high court order of July 21 directing him to defer action on disqualification notices against Sachin Pilot and 18 other MLAs.

Also read: Rajasthan speaker drops Supreme Court plea against Sachin Pilot, rebel MLAs

Senior counsel Kapil Sibal, who was representing Joshi, told the three-judge bench headed by Justice Arun Mishra that the high court, on July 24, passed a detailed order staying action by the speaker against the dissident MLAs and setting out legal issues which it was proposing to consider.

Therefore, the plea before the Supreme Court against July 21 order has become infructuous, he submitted.

“So kindly permit us to withdraw this plea”, Sibal said.

The bench which also comprised justices BR Gavai and Krishna Murari allowed the prayer.