Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania has issued notices to three Independent MLAs who had resigned from the Assembly and joined the BJP. The Speaker issued the notices in response to a petition filed by Cabinet Jagat Singh Negi, who sought action under the anti-defection law against the MLAs. In his petition, Negi argued that the MLAs’ decision to join the BJP violated the law as their resignations were still pending with the Speaker.
The three MLAs in question are Hoshiyar Singh, Ashish Sharma, and K L Thakur. They resigned from the Vidhan Sabha on March 22 and joined the BJP the next day. Their resignations came after they had voted in favor of the BJP nominee Harsh Mahajan in Rajya Sabha polls on February 27.
In his petition, Negi argued that the MLAs’ decision to join the BJP violated the 10th Schedule of the anti-defection law, which prohibits elected representatives from switching parties without facing disqualification. Negi also alleged that the MLAs had resigned under pressure from the BJP.
The MLAs have denied these allegations and have maintained that they resigned voluntarily. They have also filed a petition in the Himachal Pradesh High Court, seeking directions to the Speaker to accept their resignations immediately.
The High Court has adjourned the hearing on the MLAs’ petition until April 30. The court is expected to hear arguments from both sides before making a decision.
Meanwhile, the Speaker has said that he will not take any decision on the MLAs’ resignations until the High Court has adjudicated the matter.
The political turmoil in Himachal Pradesh has raised concerns about the stability of the Congress government in the state. The Congress currently holds a slim majority in the Assembly, with 40 MLAs. The BJP, with 25 MLAs, is the main opposition party in the state.
The BJP has been trying to destabilize the Congress government by poaching its MLAs. In recent months, six Congress MLAs have defected to the BJP. The BJP is hoping to win the upcoming by-elections for the six vacant Assembly seats and gain a majority in the House.
The Congress, on the other hand, is trying to hold on to its government and prevent the BJP from coming to power.
