Himachal Pradesh Governor urges Speaker to accept resignation of three independent MLAs

Three legislators from Himachal Pradesh, namely Ashish Sharma, Hoshiyar Singh, and KL Thakur, resigned from their positions in the state assembly on March 22. However, their resignations have not been accepted by the speaker yet. These legislators had joined the BJP along with six Congress rebels, who supported the BJP nominee in the Rajya Sabha polls held in February.

Governor's intervention:

The Himachal Pradesh governor, Shiv Pratap Shukla, stated that he had written to the speaker, Kuldeep Singh Pathania, urging him to accept the resignations of the three Independent MLAs. Despite the legislators submitting their resignations and even seeking the governor's intervention, he clarified that the Raj Bhawan couldn't interfere in the matter. He forwarded their letter to the speaker and reminded him of the Supreme Court's ruling that the speaker must accept the resignations of MLAs.

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The political turmoil began when six former Congress MLAs and three Independent MLAs voted in favor of the BJP candidate in the Rajya Sabha polls, leading to a tie and eventual victory through a lottery. This move destabilized the Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu-led government, and subsequently, the six Congress leaders were disqualified, reducing the assembly's effective strength. The BJP has 25 MLAs in the state, and by-elections for the seats vacated by the rebel leaders are scheduled for June 1.

Speaker's notice:

Speaker Kuldeep Pathania served a show-cause notice to the three Independent MLAs after the Congress alleged that they resigned under pressure and not voluntarily. The MLAs have been asked to provide an explanation regarding their resignations. However, they have maintained that their decision was independent and aimed at the state's development.

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The political landscape in Himachal Pradesh remains tumultuous as the resignations of the three Independent MLAs continue to be a matter of contention. With the governor urging acceptance and the speaker issuing notices, the fate of these resignations and their impact on the state assembly remain uncertain.