Himachal Speaker Disqualifies Six Congress MLAs Who Cross-Voted For BJP In Rajya Sabha Elections, Contradicts CM Sukhu's Remarks

Himachal Pradesh Assembly Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania on Thursday (29 February) disqualified six Congress MLAs who cross-voted for the BJP in the Rajya Sabha elections.

This comes a day after the Speaker reserved his order after hearing a petition of the state's Parliamentary Affairs Minister against the Congress MLAs under the Anti-defection law.

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

This is in contrast to Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu's statement that he believes in forgiving everyone and doesn't keep grudges against anyone.

With the disqualification of these MLAs, Himachal Pradesh's Assembly strength is reduced to 62, making 32 the new majority mark. Congress will now have 34 MLAs while the BJP has 25.