Disqualified MPs and independents from Himachal Assembly likely to join BJP
New Delhi:
Several former MLAs from the Himachal Pradesh Assembly are expected to join the Bharatiya Janata Party and contest their seats in the upcoming by-polls, sources told PTI today, as the political crisis gripping the state continues to unfold. .
Six rebel MPs – Sudhir Sharma, Ravi Thakur, Rajinder Rana, Inder Dutt Lakhanpal, Chetaniya Sharma and Devind Kumar Bhutto – was disqualified on February 29 during the cuts motion and budget for defying party whips by attending the House and voting in favor of the Himachal Pradesh government.
The Electoral Commission has announced by-elections for its constituencies.
Three independent MLAs – Ashish Sharma, Hoshiyar Singh and KL Thakur – submitted their resignations on Friday. Votes are also expected to be held on their seats.
“We have submitted our resignations. We will join the BJP and contest the elections on its ticket,” Singh later told reporters.
Last month, the BJP won the Union Assembly polls with the support of these nine MLAs, capturing the state’s lone seat and plunging the Congress government led by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sohu into crisis .
While Mr Sohu has been putting on a brave face and his government appears to be in no immediate threat, the BJP is seeking to undo his bypoll win as it could attract more ruling party lawmakers to join its camp.
With the disqualification of six MPs, the ruling party’s strength in the current 62-member parliament dropped from 39 to 33. Its original strength was 68 men. The Bharatiya Janata Party has 25 members.
The Speaker is attached to the National Assembly and can only vote in the event of a tie in the House test.
The resignation of three independent MLAs has further weakened Parliament.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
