15 BJP MLAs Expelled from Himachal Pradesh Assembly
New Delhi: Political turmoil continues in Congress-ruled Himachal Pradesh as the Opposition BJP has demanded a test of strength after winning the state’s lone Rajya Sabha seat due to cross-voting by Congress MLAs. Six Congress MLAs cross-voted in favour of the BJP in the Rajya Sabha election.
On Wednesday, the Himachal Assembly Speaker expelled 15 BJP MLAs over slogan-shouting and alleged misconduct.
The Speaker expelled the 15 BJP MLAs before the start of the Budget session of the assembly. They allegedly shouted slogans inside the chamber of the Speaker, Kuldeep Singh Pathania.
Expelled BJP MLA Jairam Thakur earlier on Wednesday said, “We are apprehensive that Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania might suspend the BJP MLAs so that the budget can be passed in the Vidhan Sabha.” He demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, saying, the Rajya Sabha election made it clear the Congress government was in a minority.
On Tuesday, the BJP won the lone Rajya Sabha seat in Himachal Pradesh as its candidate Harsh Mahajan defeated Congress’s Abhishek Manu Singhvi due to cross-voting by six MLAs of the ruling Congress.
Meanwhile, Himachal Pradesh minister Vikramaditya Singh has resigned from his post hinting at the cracks in the Congress party. Vikramaditya Singh is the son of former Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh.
