"Decision to be taken by Speaker": Parliamentary Affairs Minister on petition to disqualify six rebel MLAs

Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) [India], February 29 : As the Congress faced a fresh political crisis in Himachal Pradesh, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Harshwardhan Chauhan said on Wednesday that they have filed a petition against the six Congress MLAs who cross-voted in the Rajya Sabha election, and the decision regarding the same will be taken by the speaker.
Chauhan said that the grand old party has proved its majority and passed the budget.
"The Congress government proved its majority today and passed the budget. A whip was issued to the party MLAs to be present in the House during voting on Wednesday on budget. But these MLAs defied it by staying away," he said.
"Six rebel MLAs were found absent today during the passing of the budget. I told the Speaker about this. We filed a petition yesterday to disqualify them, and a hearing was held today. The Speaker will now take a decision on this," Chauhan added.
The grand old party deputed observers, who have reached Shimla and spoke to the dissident leaders in the state amid a rumoured rebellion in the ranks.
After meeting with party observers, CM Sukhu said, "Discussion was held regarding elections. Our government is safe."
Meanwhile, senior party leader Sachin Pilot on Wednesday said that he was hopeful that all differences and discord would be resolved soon.
"Our Rajya Sabha candidate from Himachal Pradesh, Abhishek Manu Singhvi, could not win the elections as some of our MLAs cross-voted. The party high command has appointed observers. I hope the matter will be resolved soon," Pilot said.
However, amid fears of a churn at the helm of Himachal a day after 6 Congress MLAs cross-voted for the BJP during polling for the lone Rajya Sabha seat, CM earlier in the day claimed that the conspiracy to bring down the Congress government in the state had failed.
"They conspired to topple our government in Himachal with the help of the CRPF and Haryana Police, and by sending choppers (to airlift Congress MLAs elsewhere). However, the plot to bring down our government has been defeated. They tried luring some our legislators through monetary inducements and bring them to their side. However, we have brought a disqualification motion against them (Congress MLAs who voted for the BJP candidate in the Rajya Sabha polls) and hearing on the same is underway," Sukhu told reporters on Wednesday.
He claimed that one of the dissident MLAs, who cross-voted during the casting of votes for the Rajya Sabha polls on Tuesday, prompting BJP candidate Harsh Mahajan to script a stunning win in a draw of lots, has apologised.
"One of the MLAs (who cross-voted for the BJP candidate) has asked for forgiveness for betraying the party and the whip. I don't want to take his name. He said he erred in his decision-making. The hearing on the disqualification case is underway," CM Sukhu said.