9 BJP MLAs served a show-cause notice by Vidhan Sabha 

The political turmoil in the state politics ceased to end as swords were drawn between the ruling BJP in the centre and the ruling Congress in the state escalating a battle in the legislative assembly, Court and power circle.

Congress MLA from Nahan, Ajay Solanki has made a complaint under Rule 79 of the Rules of Business of the Assembly before the speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania seeking action against the unruly behaviour of mine BJP MLAs.

Confirming the development Secretary of Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha Yashpal Sharma said that on the complaint of a Congress MLA before Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania, notices have been issued against nine BJP MLAs for allegedly indulging in violence and unwarranted acts of indiscipline during a recent Budget session inside the house and chamber of the speaker.

Showcase notice was issued to nine MLAs of BJP including  Satpal Satti from Una, Vinod Kumar from Nachan, Hansraj from Churah, Surender Shourie from Banjar, Vipin Parmar from Sulah, Trilok Jamwal from Bilaspur, Indra Singh Gandhi from Balh, Lokendra Kumar from Anni and Deepraj from Karsog. 

The complaint alleged that during the last assembly session, MLAs indulged in showing disrespect to a chair and creating ruling acts in front of the speaker and in the council chamber or the house circumventing to wind up or adjourning session of state assembly a day ahead of the its scheduled amid the unruly behaviour and high drama created by the opposition members.

“Show cause notices were served to MLAs after taking cognizance on the complaint on the alleged action by the nine BJP MLAs leading to uproar scenes in the Assembly.” Secretary of Legislative Assembly confirmed.

Members were issued show cause notice to explain their respective position in writing or personal presence by March 18, 2024, on the complaint

A complaint was received from a Congress MLA, Ajay Solanki that MLAs violated rules in the  Assembly and contempt proceedings of the house may be invile against them.

 Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania may take strong action against the MLAs if they do not abide by the instructions issued in the notice.

According to the Vidhan Sabha rule book, the proceeding may be inevitable and the speaker may refer the matter to the Vidhan Sabha privilege panel considering the response of noticed members.

It is learnt that MLAs might be suspended and disqualified from the assembly if they failed to give a proper response proving they are not guilty of the charges of indiscipline made against in them in the assembly.

The privilege Committee may also recommend action on the MLAs if they fail to give satisfactory answers. 

The legislation experts say that failing to respond to the notices speaker may place them on suspension and disqualification in the time frame given.

The complaint alleged that on the day of passing the budget in the assembly and a day before it, these BJP MLAs created a ruckus inside the house and also in the Speaker’s chamber accusing them of snatching important papers from the assembly staff and tearing them in the house.

The complainant also accused BJP members that when orders were served to remove them from the house through the marshals, the MLAs also pushed the marshals.

” The Congress MLA has said that videos clipping of this entire episode are also available in the Vidhansabha record and behaviour of MLA is unpardonable.” the complaint mentions.

Congress members also accused nine BJP MLAs that their behaviour was not becoming legislators as they have damaged the high traditions of the house.

He also sought that action be taken against these MLAs under contempt of house proceedings as per Article 194 of the Constitution.

 Under these rules, the Speaker of the Assembly has the right to suspend the MLAs. However, no response has been given by the BJP MLAs yet.

 Leader of Opposition Jairam Thakur has already termed this an act of vendetta politics and informed that the party would explore legal options in this matter if it would be necessary.

Six Congress MLAs were also disqualified by the speaker for indulging in defying party whips and abstaining from the house during important business of passing of Financial bills.

 BJP members created unruly scenes in the house flowing cross-voting by the six Congress MLAs and stalling the passing of Financial bills. 

During the Fisco fifteen members of the BJP were also suspended from the house till the session was over on February 28 and the treasury benches cleared the financial bill and rejected all cut motions in the absence of opposition.

Six Congress MLAs and three Independent also joined BJP MLAs while lodging protests against the government but after the budget session six Congress MLAs had to face the disqualification now moved to the Supreme Court to challenge the action of the treasury benches and speaker.

Supreme Court would hear the petition of six disqualified MLAs on March 18 and disqualified MLAs may retain their respective membership in the assembly if the SC would allow their petition and set aside the impugned order of Feb 29 issued by the speaker.

Moreover one out of three Independent MLAs and the father of Congress disqualified MLAs are booked for influencing the Rajyasabha election by bribing and violating election rules who are booked for the alleged crime.

It was learnt that booked Independent MLA Ashish Sharma and Rakesh Sharma (former Chief Secretary of Uttrakhand) father of rebel Congress MLA Chaitanya Sharma would dispose of their statements before the investigation officer of Himachal Pradesh police today who already got anticipatory bail in the case on April 13. 

Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu’s old Congress may come in the minority if dissidents disqualified MLAs succeed in retaining their membership as currently, Congress have 34 MLAs, BJP 28 including the support of three Independent.

Six disqualified MLAs are still out of state and they are residing in a regency at Gurgaon under the strong security cordon of CRPF.

 Following increasing tension and unrest among the political supports of the opposition and ruling party, yesterday Central Government beefed up the security around the disqualified and Independent MLAs inside their properties and residences following increasing unrest over the coup against the state government and crossing in the Rajyasabha election.