Himachal CM Ready To "Forgive" Those Congress MLAs Who Cross-Voted For BJP, Speaker Reserves Order On Disqualification

Himachal Pradesh Assembly Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania kept his order reserved after hearing a petition of the state's Parliamentary Affairs Minister against six Congress MLAs who cross-voted in favour of the BJP.

Pathania said that under the Anti-defection law, the Congress MLAs who cross-voted in the Rajya Sabha elections have been served a notice and both sides were heard during a discussion held today (28 February) afternoon.

While it remains unclear what the decision of the speaker will be on the disqualification of these MLAs, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said that he believes in forgiving everyone and doesn't keep grudges against anyone.

Sukhu also claimed that Congress would run the government in the state for a full term of five years. However, the party sent its senior leaders Bhupendra Singh Hooda and DK Shivakumar to Shimla to manage the crisis.

In the 68-seat Assembly, Congress has 40 MLAs and the BJP has 25 MLAs. However, three Independents and six Congress MLAs voted for BJP resulting in the loss of  Congress candidate Abhishek Manu Singhvi after a tie.

Earlier, Shukhu claimed that those MLAs who went to the BJP are also in Congress' contact. He also denied rumours of his resignation and also declined to accept his minister Vikramaditya Singh's resignation.