Himachal Pradesh political crisis | Disqualified Congress MLAs, Independents likely to join BJP

The Congress government led by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu was last month plunged into a crisis after the BJP won the Rajya Sabha poll for the State’s lone seat due to the support of these nine MLAs.

Several former MLAs of the Himachal Pradesh Assembly are expected to join the BJP and contest the upcoming bypolls on its ticket, sources said on March 23, as the political crisis plaguing the State continues to rumble.

Six rebel Congress MLAs - Sudhir Sharma, Ravi Thakur, Rajinder Rana, Inder Dutt Lakhanpal, Chetanya Sharma and Devinder Kumar Bhutto - were disqualified on February 29 for defying a party whip to be present in the House and vote in favour of the Himachal Pradesh government during a cut motion and budget.

The Election Commission has announced bypolls for their constituencies.

Three Independent MLAs - Ashish Sharma, Hoshiyar Singh and K.L. Thakur - submitted their resignations on Friday. Bypolls are expected to be held for their seats as well.

"We have submitted our resignations. We will join the BJP and contest the elections on its ticket," Mr. Singh had later told reporters.

Also read | On cross-voting in Rajya Sabha elections | Explained 

The Congress government led by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu was last month plunged into a crisis after the BJP won the Rajya Sabha poll for the State's lone seat due to the support of these nine MLAs.