SHIMLA: The disqualification of murder accused Congress MLA Ram Kumar Chaudhary has jeopardized the party's position in 68-member House of Himachal Pradesh. The Doon MLA's ouster has left the party with 34 MLAs only. For clear majority, the government should have the support of 35 members. If Chaudhary is disqualified, the party will be left with no option but to seek the outside support.
The MLA's suspension has prompted a fresh debate -- whether the tainted MLA arrested by Haryana police in the murder case of a dalit woman would able to take oath within 60 days of his election to avoid disqualification.
Assembly election results were declared on December 20 and the newly elected MLAs had taken oath of office on January 8, barring Chaudhary, who remained underground to evade arrest. Now that the court has remanded him to police custody till January 18, his family members will have to apply for his bail on Friday. If court rejects the bail, then Chaudhary would become a disqualified member after the expiry of 60 days.
Congress in Himachal came to power with 36 members. Of them, one of its MLAs from Palampur, Brij Behari Butail, has become the assembly speaker, leaving the party's MLA strength to 35 in the House. If Chaudhary is disqualified, then Congress would be left with 34 members only -- one less than the required majority. Under such circumstances, the party will have to take outside support to keep majority in the House.
Although out of six independent MLAs, four have extended support to Congress, sources said the party does not want to lose Chaudhary's membership to keep its majority position. Chaudhary has been placed under suspension but the party is treading cautiously on the issue of his disqualification despite Haryana police claims that evidences indicating towards his involvement in the crime.
Speaker Brij Behari Butail told TOI that Chaudhary cannot be called a member of the legislative assembly as he has yet to take the oath. "He has 60 days time to take oath and would be disqualified after that," he said. If court allows it, then Chaudhary could be administered the oath as member, Butail added.
Chaudhary is one of the four suspects in the murder of a 24-year-old dalit woman Jyoti from Hoshiarpur, whose body was found in Sector 21 of Panchkula on November 22. He had surrendered to police on January 8.
Murder accused MLA makes Cong insecure in HP
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Murder accused MLA makes Cong insecure in HP
