Himachal Pradesh: 6 rebel Congress MLAs disqualified by speaker

The disqualified MLAs are Sudhir Sharma, Rajinder Rana, Inder Dutt Lakhanpal, Devinder Kumar Bhutoo, Ravi Thakur, and Chetanya Sharma.

Digital Desk: Six Congress MLAs from Himachal Pradesh who cross-voted for the BJP in the Rajya Sabha election have been disqualified from the assembly under the anti-defection law, Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania announced today.

"Six MLAs, who contested on the Congress symbol, attracted provisions of the anti-defection law against themselves...I declare that the six people cease to be members of the Himachal Pradesh Assembly with immediate effect," said the Assembly Speaker.

Congress MLA and Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Harsh Wardhan Chauhan submitted a petition to disqualify the six MLAs under the anti-defection law.

The disqualified MLAs are Sudhir Sharma, Rajinder Rana, Inder Dutt Lakhanpal, Devinder Kumar Bhutoo, Ravi Thakur, and Chetanya Sharma.

Six legislators have reportedly deserted, putting the state's Congress government in turmoil. They claim to have been in contact with the BJP. Currently, the BJP has 25 seats in the 68-member house, while the Congress holds 40. The remaining three seats are held by independents.

The actions of the six MLAs disobeyed the anti-defection law, the Speaker said.

On Wednesday, individual meetings between Congress MLAs and the two central observers, DK Shivakumar and Bhupendra Hooda, were held. The party's high command was to receive the observers' report later.

The ongoing developments underscore the fragility of Congress's political position, not only in Himachal Pradesh but also in other regions, as leaders express dissatisfaction and shift loyalties. The coming days may witness further political realignments as the party grapples with internal dissent and external challenges from rival political factions.