Today(on 10th May),Six ex-Congress MLAs from Himachal Pradesh, including Sudhir Sharma, Ravi Thakur, Rajinder Rana, Inder Dutt Lakhanpal, Chetanya Sharma, and Devinder Kumar Bhutto, withdraw their petition after disqualification, opting to run in the assembly bypolls as BJP candidates.
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NEW DELHI: Today(on 10th May),The Supreme Court has granted permission for six former MLAs to retract their petition challenging their earlier disqualification by the Speaker of the Himachal Pradesh Assembly. Sudhir Sharma, Ravi Thakur, Rajinder Rana, Inder Dutt Lakhanpal, Chetanya Sharma, and Devinder Kumar Bhutto, all former Congress MLAs from Himachal Pradesh, have opted to withdraw their plea. Initially seeking relief after their disqualification from the assembly, they have now decided to contest the upcoming assembly bypolls as candidates of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
The decision to allow the withdrawal of the petition was made by the bench, which acknowledged the anticipation of such a move due to the upcoming elections.
Speaking on the matter, the bench stated-
“We anticipated this outcome considering the approaching elections.”
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The disqualification of the six former MLAs came as a result of their defiance of a Congress whip during the cut motion and budget voting in favor of the Himachal Pradesh government. The Himachal Pradesh Assembly speaker’s order on February 29 led to their disqualification. Despite their disqualification, the former MLAs are determined to continue their political journey and have chosen to participate in the assembly bypolls.
It is worth noting that the assembly bypolls were necessitated due to the disqualification of the former MLAs. The Supreme Court, on March 18, had declined to stay the disqualification order by the speaker. As a consequence, the six MLAs were barred from being members of the assembly.
The bypolls for the six assembly seats, which the former MLAs are now contesting, are scheduled to be held on June 1.
These bypolls will coincide with the polling for the four Lok Sabha seats in the state. This presents a significant opportunity for the former MLAs to prove their mettle and secure a place in the assembly.
The decision to contest the assembly bypolls as BJP candidates indicates a shift in the political affiliations of the former MLAs. It is interesting to observe their transition from being Congress MLAs to joining the BJP. This move not only reflects their determination to continue their political careers but also highlights the changing dynamics of political alliances in the state.
ALSO READ: 6 Disqualified HP MLAs | Supreme Court to Hear Plea of MLAs on March 18
The upcoming assembly bypolls will undoubtedly be a crucial event for both the former MLAs and the political landscape of Himachal Pradesh. It will test the support and popularity of the candidates among the constituents.
