Pandemonium in Himachal Assembly as BJP says Sukhu regime has lost majority

Pratibha Chauhan

Shimla, February 27

The Vidhan Sabha today witnessed acrimonious scenes as an enraged opposition demanded division of votes on the cut motion, claiming that the Sukhu-led Congress regime had lost majority in the 68-member house.

It was after lunch when the house re-assembled that leader of opposition Jai Ram Thakur expressed displeasure on the voice vote on the cut motion in the Health Department. “When we demanded division of votes on the grounds that the government had lost confidence, the cut motion was put to voice vote,” he said. Thakur went to the extent of stating that even God cannot save the government.

Following the remarks by Thakur that the government had lost majority, there was sloganeering and heated exchanges between the treasury benches and opposition members. It was amidst frayed tempers that there was complete pandemonium, forcing the Vidhan Sabha Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania to adjourn the house till 11 am tomorrow.

What was interesting is that not just the opposition but even the ruling MLAs left the house while raising slogans. “More than 33 MLAs of the ruling party were seated inside the house and there were 25 opposition MLAs, so the Speaker gave the right ruling. Division of votes is done only if the number of MLAs is less but since the government had majority, then how can there be division of votes,” said Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi.

It was on the day of the polling for the Rajya Sabha elections, that the BJP exhibited aggressive posturing. Following the adjournment of the house, the opposition MLAs marched to the chamber of the Speaker to lodge the protest. “The opposition misbehaved and threatened our MLAs even though everyone has the right to speak in a democracy,” said Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu after the house was adjourned. He said the Congress had the numbers in its favour and moreover a whip had been issued so why is the BJP crying hoarse.

Later, talking to mediapersons, former chief minister Jairam Thakur said the demand of the opposition, seeking division of votes on the cut motion was rejected. “Not only was our demand for division of votes not accepted but the house was also adjourned on the ground that there was total disorder in the house,” he remarked.

He also said the Congress will take a view on the absence of some MLAs from the house when the assembly re-assembled.

He alleged that the Marshalls outside the Speaker’s chamber misbehaved and pushed the BJP legislators and former Speaker Vipin Parmar was held by the collar. “Later, a few of us met the Speaker and expressed our displeasure before the Speaker who said he had not deputed Marshall outside his office,” he said. Thakur said what happened today would go down as black day in the history of Himachal Vidhan Sabha.