Today (February 5) Six former Congress MLAs have taken their battle to the Supreme Court following their disqualification from the state assembly. This move comes in the wake of a contentious Rajya Sabha election that has sparked a series of legal and political confrontations.
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The crux of the controversy lies in the actions of these six legislators, who were accused of cross-voting in the recent Rajya Sabha polls, leading to their disqualification by the state Legislative Assembly Speaker, Kuldeep Singh Pathania. The disqualified MLAs, namely Rajinder Rana, Sudhir Sharma, Inder Dutt Lakhanpal, Devinder Kumar Bhutoo, Ravi Thakur, and Chetanya Sharma, have labeled the Speaker’s February 29 decision as “illegal and constitutional,” challenging the grounds of their removal from the assembly.
The legal battle initiated by these MLAs underscores a broader political crisis in Himachal Pradesh, where party lines and legislative procedures have been thrown into disarray. Prior to approaching the Supreme Court, the disgruntled legislators had sought redress from the Himachal Pradesh High Court, contesting their disqualification which followed the defeat of Congress candidate Abhishek Manu Singhvi in the Rajya Sabha election.
The situation in the state assembly further escalated when these rebel MLAs abstained from voting on the Budget, defying a party whip. Their absence and subsequent cross-voting were pivotal in the passing of the Finance Bill by voice vote, an action that led the ruling Congress to seek their disqualification.
In a parallel development, the legislative turmoil has also seen the Speaker issuing notices to seven BJP MLAs for allegedly creating a ruckus in the Vidhan Sabha. The incident, which occurred on February 28, involved allegations of misbehavior with the marshal and disruption of assembly proceedings, prompting Speaker Pathania to refer the matter to the Privileges Committee.
“Notices have been received from some members (on the ruckus) and I have also taken suo motu notice. The matter has been referred to the Privileges Committee,”
Pathania stated, highlighting the disciplinary measures being considered against the BJP legislators for their conduct.
The unfolding drama in Himachal Pradesh’s political arena is not just a local issue but a reflection of the larger challenges facing Indian democracy, where party loyalty, legislative ethics, and legal accountability are being tested. As the Supreme Court prepares to hear the plea of the disqualified MLAs, the outcome of this legal challenge could have far-reaching implications for political alignment and legislative conduct within the state.
The case represents a critical juncture for the Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly, where the actions of a few have precipitated a crisis of governance and accountability. As the legal proceedings unfold, the eyes of the nation are on the Supreme Court, awaiting a verdict that could redefine the boundaries of political conduct and legislative responsibility in the state.
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