Himachal BJP seeks disqualification of four independent MLAs

The opposition BJP in Himachal Pradesh Tuesday sought disqualification of four independent legislators from the assembly for describing themselves as associate members of the Congress.

"We gave a petition to Speaker B.B.L. Butail demanding suspension of four independent MLAs -- Manohar Dhiman, Pawan Kajal, Kirnesh Jang and Balbir Verma," BJP chief whip Suresh Bhardwaj told reporters here.

He said the public had given them mandate as independent members but now they had joined the Congress party.

Assembly officials said the speaker has not taken any call so far on the complaint.

The four legislators had issued a statement last month in favour of Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh and described themselves as associate members of the Congress, Bhardwaj said.

"Even the chief minister thinks of them as members of the Congress. During the Lok Sabha elections, they were canvassing for the Congress party," he added.

"Any conspiracy to destabilise the state government will not be allowed," the four legislators had said in a statement issued to the media here Aug 8, when the monsoon session of the assembly was in progress which the BJP was boycotting.

They said the BJP was expecting them to boycott the assembly proceedings.

"We are accountable to the people who had elected us for raising issues concerning them in the assembly," they said.

The chief minister had justified their support to the government.

"They are independent MLAs who are supporting our government. So what is wrong in that," he had told reporters.