Speaker reserves order on MLAs' disqualification

Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania has reserved his order on a Congress petition seeking the disqualification of six party MLAs who cross-voted in the Rajya Sabha election.

The six MLAs also face the possibility of disqualification on another count.

Speaking in the assembly, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Harshwardhan Chauhan said a whip was issued to the party MLAs to be present in the House during voting on the state Budget on Wednesday. But these MLAs defied it by staying away, he added.

The minister asked the Speaker to take note of it. The Speaker said the matter is in his knowledge and he will take cognisance of it.

The MLAs had cross-voted for BJP candidate Harsh Mahajan during the Rajya Sabha elections on Tuesday, leading to the defeat of their party candidate Abhishek Manu Singhvi.

The Congress has accused the six MLAs of defying the earlier whip on the Rajya Sabha polls.

Senior advocate Satya Pal Jain, who represented the six MLAs before the Speaker on Wednesday, has asserted that a party whip does not apply in the case of Rajya Sabha polls.

Jain also argued that according to rules, seven days’ time has to be given to MLAs for filing their reply.