Independent MLAs lodge protest over delay in acceptance of their resignations

The three Independent MLAs sat on a dharna at the Vidhan Sabha in Shimla on March 30.

Peeved over delay on part of Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania in accepting their resignations, the three Independent MLAs sat on a dharna at the Vidhan Sabha in Shimla on March 30.

Three Independent MLAs, Hoshiyar Singh from Dehra, Ashish Sharma from Hamirpur and K.L. Thakur from Nalagarh, who had voted for the BJP candidate Harsh Mahajan in recently held Rajya Sabha elections, tendered their resignation on March 22 and joined the BJP the next day.

The MLAs were carrying placards which read "Hamne swechha se Vidhan Sabha se tyagpatra diya hai, ise turant sweekar kiya jaye" (We have resigned voluntarily from assembly and it should be accepted immediately) during the protest.

These MLAs were issued notice by the Vidhan Sabha seeking an explanation whether they have resigned voluntarily and not under duress.

"We have received representation from the Congress legislative party that these MLAs resigned under duress and not voluntarily and we have sought an explanation from them in this regard," a Vidhan Sabha staff had told PTI earlier.

The speaker had earlier maintained that the Independent MLAs have submitted their resignation but not cited the reason. It will be put up in file and necessary procedure would be followed, he said.

Meanwhile, the MLAs insisted that they had resigned willfully as they were being humiliated and insulted but instead of accepting the resignations, the speaker sought an explanation from them and asked them to appear before him on April 10.