In a significant political development, six Congress MLAs in Himachal Pradesh have been disqualified from the state assembly after they cross-voted in favor of the BJP during the recent Rajya Sabha elections. The move comes as a consequence of their actions defying the party whip.
The Disqualified Congress MLAs
The following Congress MLAs have been declared disqualified under the anti-defection law:
- Rajinder Rana
- Sudhir Sharma
- Inder Dutt Lakhanpal
- Devinder Kumar Bhutoo
- Ravi Thakur
- Chetanya Sharma
The Political Crisis
The Himachal Pradesh Congress government, led by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, faced a crisis when these Congress MLAs voted against the party’s candidate in the Rajya Sabha polls. The BJP delegation, led by Jai Ram Thakur, had requested the Governor to ensure that the Finance Bill was passed only through voting. Despite this internal turmoil, the government managed to pass the budget, ensuring stability for now.
The Revolt and Its Aftermath
The disqualified MLAs had initially supported the BJP candidate, Harsh Mahajan, in the Rajya Sabha elections. Congress stalwart Abhishek Manu Singhvi was defeated by Mahajan through a draw of lots, with both candidates receiving 34 votes each.
In response to the cross-voting, the BJP delegation, led by Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur, sought the Governor’s intervention to ensure that the Finance Bill was passed only through voting. However, the Congress government successfully navigated the situation and secured the budget’s passage.
Congress Leader’s Resignation
Congress leader Vikramaditya Singh, who had initially announced his resignation as a minister, has decided to withhold pressing for resignation until further dialogue with party leaders is completed.
Conclusion
While the disqualification of the Congress MLAs marks a significant development, the political landscape in Himachal Pradesh remains fluid. The Congress government’s ability to manage the crisis and maintain stability will be closely watched in the coming days.
Stay tuned for further updates as the situation unfolds.
Source: The Hindu : MSN : Firstpost
