Rahul Gandhi Says BJP Conspiracy to Topple Raj Govt is Clear, Asks Guv to Convene Assembly

Alleging there was a clear "BJP conspiracy" to topple the Ashok Gehlot government in Rajasthan, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday said Governor Kalraj Mishra must convene an assembly session so that the truth comes out before the country.

Gandhi weighed in on the political developments in Rajasthan after the Congress attacked Mishra for not calling an assembly session by accusing him of abdicating his constitutional obligation and acting at the behest of the central government.

"The country is ruled by Constitution and law. The governments are made and run by the mandate of the people," the former Congress chief said in a tweet in Hindi."The BJP conspiracy to topple the Rajasthan government is clear. This is an insult to the eight crore people of Rajasthan."

The governor should convene a session of the Legislative Assembly so that the truth comes out before the country, Gandhi tweeted with the hashtag 'Arrogant BJP'.

Senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel also lashed out at the BJP, saying the saffron party's government in Manipur manages to convene an assembly, but the Congress government in Rajasthan cannot.

"Selective application of the Constitution is now rule of law?" he said in a tweet.

Congress MLAs loyal to Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Friday held a five-hour sit-in at the Raj Bhawan to press for an assembly session, in a dramatic show of strength hours after the Pilot camp secured protection for now from disqualification from the House.

The Congress said it ended the sit-in following an assurance from the governor that he will abide by Article 174 of the Constitution, after getting some clarifications from the chief minister.

Gandhi's tweet came shortly after the Congress MLAs ended their five-hour dharna at the Raj Bhawan.

Gehlot earlier said the Governor is the constitutional head and he could not have stopped the Assembly session from taking place "without some pressure from the top". "Why did he not decide yesterday? We've requested him again to make a decision soon. People are waiting," said Gehlot at a press conference in Jaipur. "I am sure that the Governor will not come under any pressure, he will make a decision. We hope the Assembly session begins soon."