Himachal News: Sukhvinder Sukhu Will Remain The Chief Minister, Membership Of Six Rebel Congress MLAs Cancelled, Challenge in High Court
CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, Pratibha Singh, Vikramaditya and others with observers. - Photo: Diary Times
The political crisis that has been going on for three days on the Himachal Pradesh government seems to be coming to an end. After the observers’ report, the Congress high command has made it clear that Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu will remain the Chief Minister. Observers announced that the high command had expressed confidence in Sukhu’s leadership and given him a clean chit. After persuasion by observers, Vikramaditya Singh also withdrew his resignation from the post of minister. After this he attended the cabinet meeting. On the other hand, Himachal Pradesh Assembly Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania has canceled the membership of six rebel Congress MLAs under the anti-defection law. Soon after this, the rebel MLAs also challenged this decision in the High Court.
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At 11:00 am on Thursday, Assembly Speaker Pathania announced the cancellation of membership of rebel MLAs Sudhir Sharma, Rajinder Rana, Ravi Thakur, Devendra Kumar Bhutto, Chaitanya Sharma and Indradutt Lakhanpal under the anti-defection law. Despite being issued a whip, action has been taken against them for not being present in the Assembly on the day of passing the budget. Pathania said that six Congress MLAs remained absent deliberately. He cannot do this under the anti-defection law, hence a decision has been taken to cancel his assembly membership. He said that discouraging the undemocratic tradition of horse-trading has also been kept in mind.
This decision has been given only after listening to both the sides in detail. At the same time, after the political turmoil, observers DK Shiv Kumar and Bhupendra Singh Hooda, appointed by the high command, who were in Shimla for two days, said that the Congress government will remain in power for five years. To coordinate among the MLAs, a six-member committee has been formed, which will include Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, Congress State President Pratibha Singh and Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri. Apart from these, Congress high command will decide three other members. At the same time, observers also gave information about withdrawal of resignation of Vikramaditya Singh in the press conference.
Now who has how many MLAs?
After the dismissal of six MLAs, Himachal Pradesh Assembly is left with 62 members instead of 68. Congress has 34 MLAs, BJP 25 and three independent MLAs. Independent MLAs have supported BJP in the election of Rajya Sabha member. Even if he remains with BJP, BJP will have 28 members. That means the Congress government currently has the majority. There should be 32 MLAs to remain in the state government. Only if the six rebels are reinstated can Congress face trouble again. At the same time, amidst the hustle and bustle throughout the day, Congress MLAs and BJP MLAs held a meeting. While Congress is busy in stabilizing the government, BJP is busy in making future strategy.
If relief is not received from the High Court, situation may arise for by-elections.
After losing their membership, the dismissed MLAs have filed an appeal in the High Court challenging the decision of the Assembly Speaker. The decision of the High Court can also be challenged in the Supreme Court. If the decision is not in favor of the rebel MLAs, then the situation may arise for by-elections on six seats within six months.
BJP needs 12 MLAs for Operation Lotus
Prof. Chairman of the Department of Political Science, Himachal Pradesh University. Kamal Manohar Sharma said that the decision to cancel the membership of six Congress MLAs has become a lifeline for the Congress government. Now BJP will have to get 12 MLAs in its favor for Operation Lotus, which is not possible in the current situation. Only by doing this the anti-defection law will not be applicable on Congress MLAs.
Situation before and now in the assembly
First
Total assembly members: 68
Congress MLA: 40
BJP MLA: 25
Independent MLA: 3
Required for majority: 35
Now
Total assembly members: 62
Congress MLA: 34
BJP MLA: 25
Independent MLA: 3
Now required for majority: 32
Kumud Sharma is the First Well-Known Female Journalist of the Journalism World of Himachal Pradesh. I am the Founder, Editor in Chief, Managing Director, Promoter of DiaryTimes. As a Female Journalist, With My Experience of More Than Nine Years, I Tell You Every News of Himachal Pradesh From The Ground Level With Absolutely Accurate and Correct Information, Be it the Politics of Himachal Pradesh or the Ground Reality, My Perspective On Every News Will Give You Assurance. I Assure You That Every News of Mine Will Comply With the Expertise and Fact Checking Policy.
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