Himachal minister approaches speaker invoking anti-defection law against 3 MLAs
The three MLAs' petition is pending in the high court against the Speaker for not approving their resignation from the State Legislative Assembly.
The Rajya Sabha election for the lone seat in Himachal Pradesh has turned into an intense affair after Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has alleged that CRPF and Haryana Police have taken away five-six Congress MLAs.
Sukhu’s allegations came shortly after BJP leader Jairam Thakur claimed that the Congress government in Himachal has lost the majority.
“The manner in which the counting has begun and Opposition leaders are threatening the polling officers again and again is not right for democracy…They had halted the counting for long. I urge the Himachal BJP unit leaders to have patience, don’t put pressure on people…CRPF and Haryana Police convoy have taken away 5-6 MLAs,” CM Sukhu told reporters on Tuesday.
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“I can say that the people who have gone away are being contacted by their families, I urge them to contact their families…There is no need to worry,” he added.
While the counting for the single Rajya Sabha seat in Himachal Pradesh is underway, the Opposition BJP has accused CM Sukhu of violating the model code of conduct.
The BJP said that Sudarshan Singh Babloo, a Congress MLA, was brought to the voting centre in a helicopter at last minute from Punjab. Earlier, there were reports that Babloo will not participate due to illness and hospitalisation.
Meanwhile, according to reports, six Congress MLAs and three independents have reportedly reached a government rest house in Haryana’s Panchkula.
Earlier today, the Leader of Opposition in Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly, Jairam Thakur had claimed that the Sukhu government has lost the majority.
“The budget will be presented tomorrow. We will discuss the budget tomorrow and then we will see the situation there. But I can see that the government has lost the majority,” Thakur said when asked if the BJP is planning to demand the floor test.
The BJP, which has just 25 MLAs against the 40 lawmakers of the Congress party, has exuded confidence of winning the Rajya Sabha election amid Congress accusations of “horse trading”.
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