Himachal Pradesh Bill Aims to Curb MLA Defections

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has introduced a bill to amend the state's legislative assembly laws, preventing disqualified MLAs from receiving pensions. This move follows the cross-voting of six Congress MLAs during the 2024 Rajya Sabha elections, highlighting the need to deter defections.

The government of Himachal Pradesh is taking a firm stance against political defections. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has introduced a critical amendment to the state's legislative rules, aiming to strip pension benefits from MLAs disqualified for defecting under the 10th Schedule of the Constitution.

The proposed bill will modify the Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly (Allowances and Pension of Members Amendment Act), specifically altering Section 6-B. It seeks to ensure that any MLA who becomes ineligible due to defection will no longer receive pension benefits, thus upholding democratic integrity.

This legislative move follows the recent incident where six ruling Congress MLAs cross-voted for a BJP candidate in the 2024 Rajya Sabha elections, resulting in their disqualification. The amendment aims to fortify democratic values and curb future incidents of political transgression.

(With inputs from agencies.)