Disqualified Himachal Pradesh Congress MLAs move Supreme Court against speaker's decision

NEW DELHI: The 6 Himachal Pradesh Congress rebel MLAs, who were disqualified under Tenth Schedule after they cross-voted in Rajya Sabha elections, on Tuesday moved the Supreme Court challenging speaker’s decision to disqualify them. The 6 Congress MLAs, along with three independents, had voted in favour of BJP candidate ensuring the defeat of Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi.

The ex-MLAs have filed a plea against the February 29 decision of the state legislative assembly Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania.

These Congress rebels, who had voted in favour of the BJP nominee in the Rajya Sabha polls, later abstained from voting on the Budget, defying a party whip. The ruling Congress had sought their disqualification on this ground. The disqualified MLAs are Rajinder Rana, Sudhir Sharma, Inder Dutt Lakhanpal, Devinder Kumar Bhutoo, Ravi Thakur and Chetanya Sharma.

(With inputs from agencies)