Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania on Thursday disqualified all the six Congress MLAs who cross-voted in the Rajya Sabha polls from the House. The Speaker said that the six rebel MLAs had defied the whip issued by Congress Party.
Pronouncing the judgment on Thursday, the Speaker said, "Six MLAs, who contested on Congress symbol, attracted provisions of anti-defection law against themselves," adding, "I declare that the six people cease to be members of the Himachal Pradesh Assembly with immediate effect."
With the disqualification of the six rebel legislators, ruling Congress' strength comes down to 34 from 40, just two more than the majority mark, in the 68-member Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly.
The judgment comes on a petition filed by Congress MLA and parliamentary affairs Minister Harsh Wardhan Chauhan under anti-defection law for disqualification of the six MLAs after they cross-voted for in the Tuesday Rajya Sabha polls.
A high voltage political drama unfolded on Wednesday in the hill state after ruling Congress experienced a shock defeat in the Rajya Sabha polls held on Tuesday where six MLAs cross voted for Bharatiya Janata Party candidate Harsh Mahajan who defeated stalwart Congress candidate Abhishek Manu Singhvi.
On Wednesday morning, Himachal Assembly Leader of Opposition and BJP leader Jairam Thakur, along with BJP MLAs, met with Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla fuelling the speculations of a floor test in the state. Later in the day, 15 BJP MLAs including Thakur were expelled by Assembly Speaker for "misconduct".
As the day passed, reports emerged that the Congress government could face a risk of its MLAs breaking away from the party after one of the MLAs, when asked by reporters as to whom he sided with replied saying "BJP".
The six legislators alleged that they were being "overlooked" by CM Sukhu.
Himachal minister and Congress leader Vikramaditya Singh also announced that he was stepping down from his position.
"I have never said anything about the functioning of the government, but it is my responsibility to say it clearly today...I have always said that position and cabinet berth is not important for me. For me, the most important thing is the relationship with the people of Himachal Pradesh," Singh said.
In order to pacify the disgruntled MLAs and defuse the situation, Congress president Mallikarkarjun Kharge appointed DK Shivakumar and Bhupinder Singh Hooda as observers who reached Shimla and spoke with the MLAs.
Reports of resignation by CM Sukhu also started doing rounds which were refuted by him later.