"Not Right For Me To Say. . .": Vikramaditya Singh On Disqualification Of Congress MLAs (image: facebook.com/VikramadityaINC)

Himachal Pradesh Assembly Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania on Thursday disqualified six Congress MLAs who cross-voted for the BJP in the Rajya Sabha election. On the disqualification of six Congress MLAs, Congress MLA Vikramaditya Singh told ANI that it is not right for him to say anything on the issue.

“It is not right for me to say anything on this as of now. Our Observers have come here and they have witnessed and understood the situation. The speaker has taken this decision. So, I don”t think it is correct for me to make a comment on the same. As I said, we will speak with the Observers and we will see what the future course of action will be,” ANI quotes as Vikramaditya Singh is saying.

In a shocking turn of events, in the Rajya Sabha polls held on February 27, six Congress MLAs crossed sides and voted for a BJP candidate. Subsequently, the BJP won the Rajya Sabha seat as its candidate, Harsh Mahajan, defeated veteran Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi. Adding much to Congress distress, state minister Vikramaditya Singh has also announced his resignation from the Himachal Pradesh cabinet.

However, amidst the ongoing political turmoil, on Wednesday, the Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu-led Congress government passed the budget, and Vikramaditya Singh maintained that he was taking back the resignation and would not proceed with it until he held talks with the leaders.

The speaker disqualified the candidates under the anti-defection law. The disqualified MLAs are Rajinder Rana from Sujanpur, Sudhir Sharma from Dharamshala, Inder Dutt Lakhanpal from Barsar, Devinder Kumar Bhutoo from Kutlehar, Ravi Thakur from Lahaul-Spiti and Chetanya Sharma from Gagret. On Wednesday, the Assembly Speaker suspended 15 BJP MLAs including Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur alleging “misconduct” and creating a ruckus in the assembly.

Since political crisis has unfolded in Himachal Pradesh, Congress has sent three observers, Bhupesh Baghel, Bhupinder Singh Hooda and DK Shivakumar, to Shimla to handle the situation.

In the 68-member Himachal Pradesh assembly, the Congress had 40 MLAs, the BJP had 25 legislators, and the remaining three seats are held by independents. But, with recent loss and disqualification of MLAs, Congress now has 34 MLAs and the BJP with independents possess 28 members.