Shimla, April 10
The Three Independent MLAs of Himachal Pradesh who recently joined membership of opposition BJP today moved Himachal Pradesh High court for allegedly not accepting their resignation by the speaker.
Hoshiyar Singh who joined BJP (two times in last two years) but won 2017 & 2022 assembly elections as Independent MLAs informed media that they knocked the door of High court of Himachal Pradesh.
He said that HC listed the matter till April 24 ordering the speaker and State of Himachal Pradesh to file reply in the next date of hearing.
Speaker could not withold their resignation for indefinite period Singh told media persons that they are hopeful that High court would pass order in favour of them in the similar case of of Karnataka Supreme court of India had given relief for Independent MLAs. He said that they want to go for bye election as candidate of BJP along with six bye-election on June 1. He said that bye-election should be held togather and it is not in the interest of state to go bye election time and again.
Hoshiyar Singh(Hamirpur) Ashish Sharma(Hamirpur )and K.L. Thakur (Nalagarh) has tendered resignation from the Vidhan sabha on March 22, 2024 to seek fresh election.
Trio was supporting Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu government after their election as Independent MLAs till Rajyasabha election of February 27, 2024 but they flocked with six Congress MLAs and joined BJP on March 24 .
Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania didn’t accept their resignation but he had issued notice to them on a complaint Parliamentary Affairs minister Harshvardhan Chauhan and Revenue minister Jagat Singh Negi who had accused the three Independent MLAs for tendering resignation under the allurement from BJP.
Complaint also accused the trio that for not tendering resignation without being influenced and it should not be accepted.
Three Independent MLAs moved to Himachal Pradesh High court making Himachal Pradesh speaker and state government as party.
However Himachal Pradesh High court said that Speaker could not be arrayed party as personnel being speaker of assembly but reply could be seeked in the matter.
After court hearing three Independent MLAs gave appearance before the speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania to respond to speaker notice and counsel for the Independent MLAs would file reply before the Himachal Pradesh Speaker today explaining circumstances of tendering.
Speaker Kuldeep Pathania said that Independent MLAs are accused by twin Congress MLAs for tendering resignation under pressure and it also attract Antidefection law.
He said that three Independent MLAs are not alone to tender resignation on March 22 as Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur and BJP MLA Dr Janak Raj also joined them to his residence same day.
He said that on the complaint of Congress he couldn’t not allow to resignation without verifying the compulsion of three Independent MLAs for seeking resignation but he is bound to go through the house inquiry for compelling circumstances for their actions and being speaker he could not ignore the complaint being lodged against them.
Congress government in Himachal Pradesh accusing three Independent MLAs and six disqualified Congress MLAs for indulged in horesetrading along with BJP government of center as BJP not only got votes of nine MLAs in the RS poll but they were offered tickets in six bye election.
However Congress disqualified MLAs filed complaint against Chief minister Sukhvinder Singh in the court and also issued legal notice for allegedly accusing them for accepting Rs 15 Crore bribes in the RS poll.
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