BJP seeks disqualification of 4 independent MLAs

Himachal BJP today urged the Assembly Speaker B B L Butail to disqualify four independent MLAs under anti defection law for their association with the Congress.
In a petition filed before the Speaker of the Assembly, the chief whip of BJP in the Assembly, Suresh Bhardwaj said the MLAs Manohar Dhiman (Indora), Pawan Kajal (Kangra), Kirnesh Jang (Paonta Sahib) and Balbir Singh Verma (Chopal) were elected as independent MLAs but had now associated with Congress.
"They have betrayed the trust of the people and attract disqualification under Schedule 10 of the Constitution and therefore their membership should be cancelled," it said.

Bhardwaj was among the BJP delegation, led by state BJP President Satpal Singh Satti, which filed the petition before Assembly Speaker today.
He said that even Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh had considered them as party members and all the four MLAs had canvassed for Congress during Lok Sabha elections.
"During the recent Assembly session, these MLAs had issued statement in favour of Chief Minister and in the press release issued by them, they mentioned themselves on record as associate members of Congress party. This proves that they have joined Congress party," the BJP MLA alleged.
"Independent MLAs can lend their support from outside only and they cannot share the platform of a political party or participate in its political activities," Bhardwaj said.

Nowhere in the Act, the word associate MLA has been mentioned. The activity of independent MLAs showed their defection to Congress and invited their disqualification from the house, he said.