Congress may file election petition into Feb 27 RS poll in Himachal

After the unexpected results in the Rajyasabha election of Himachal Pradesh ruling Congress may file an election petition before Himachal Pradesh High Court accusing rigging in the  February 27 polling.

The State government counsel in Himachal Pradesh High Court told us that the state Congress government is working to move an election petition Challenging the free and fairness of the poll as six of its members of the legislative assembly are allegedly in the custody of Haryana police and  CRPF jawan who were deployed on the behest of BJP ruled Haryana and Central Government.

It is worthwhile to mention that noted Supreme Court Lawyer Abhishek Manu Singhvi lost the RS poll after polling got tied at 34 each and former Congress Rebel and BJP-nominated candidate Harsh Mahajan was declared winner in the highly unexpected move.

Congress despite having near two-third majority in the state assembly allegedly claimed that the c six votes of its MLAs and three Independent members who are supporting Congress party government in the state also voted in favour of BJP candidate under the influence of the external agencies who were deployed in the poll unlawfully.

Congress’s move to challenge the RS poll before the Himachal Pradesh High Court is also about the defection of six members of Congress who were brought in five private vehicles without having valid entry passes and escorted by the Jawan of Haryana police and CRPF. The security officials from outside the state forcefully jumped the Vidhan Sabha security cordon and also caused damage to an entry gate.

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu stated that to hijack the mandate of Congress MLAs they are kidnapped and forced to cross vote by the BJP government of Haryana and Centre which is murder of democracy.

The six MLAs also showed their votes to authorised party agents and claimed cross may be demanded to be declared invalid as six party members voted against the party candidate.

During the counting seven to Eight BJP legislator also jumped the security cover of counting stations and shouted salogan in the counting hall which also amount to  influencing the result in its favour however BJP MLA were removed from the counting stations of Vidhan sabha library to start the counting. 

State government alleged that soon after of casting of voting six Congress MLAs were taken to a resort in Punchkula and they are brought to the Assembly to attend the budget session the next day by the Haryana police and CRPF security cover still in the protection and security cover of Haryana police but few Congress MLAs including Vikramaditya Singh and Deputy Chief minister allowed to meet the six.

After the alleged defection, six Congress MLAs are disqualified from defying party Whips in the passing of the Financial bill and budget session on February 29. 

Independent MLA Ashish Sharma also had to face public anger for voting in favour of BJP in his Assembly constituency Hamirpur as the Congress workers and supporters of Independent MLA clashed two days after the RS poll.

Congress ruling party taking service of a battery of lawyers to draft an election petition to challenge the polling.

The state could implead the Election Commission, DGP of CRPF Haryana police and Union Home Ministry for influencing voting which led to the defeat of its party candidate in the election.

The impact of poll rigging was not only confined to just outcome of the Rajyasabha election but according to the state chief minister horses trading of its MLA from crossing over also reduced Congress party elected government to a minority forcing the Congress legislative party to seek disqualification of defected MLAs who were now trying to merge with BJP or may split from the Congress along with three Independent members.

Chief Minister said that the Government couldn’t be blackmailed by the few MLAs to accept their unlawful demands as few if them are seeking green waiver to run illegal stonecrashers which were banned by the state government after monsoon rain furry and action have been taken by the government on illegal mine Mafia.

No rebuttal was issued by the Independent MLAs who are accused by the Chief Minister of running illegal mining on the river beds.

On Monday Supreme Court of India also showed concern over the freedom and fairness of the Rajyasabha election after a report of crossing over in the three states in the country.