HC notice on six BSP MLAs; Gehlot hits out at Mayawati
JAIPUR: The Rajasthan high court on Thursday issued notices to and sought the responses of assembly speaker CP Joshi and six legislators, who contested the state elections on Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) tickets but later defected to the Congress.
The court issued the notices while hearing writ petitions filed by the BSP and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Madan Dilawar against the six lawmakers.
Meanwhile, speaking to reporters outside the Fairmont Hotel on the outskirts of Jaipur — where legislators loyal to him are camping — chief minister Ashok Gehlot accused the BSP of creating “unnecessary fuss” over its six legislators merging with the Congress in 2019.
“[BSP chief] Mayawati’s complaint is not justified as all six MLAs joined the Congress. I believe she is making statements on the directions of the BJP,” Gehlot said. He also pointed to a law that allows two-thirds of the members of the legislature party to join another political party or form a separate party.
Mayawati has earlier said the BSP has decided to “teach a lesson” to the Congress over the “unconstitutional” merger.
Gehlot also alleged that the money offered to MLAs to switch sides had increased sharply after the announcement of the assembly session from August 14. He indicated he is likely to call a trust vote in the session amid a rebellion by his now-dismissed deputy, Sachin Pilot, and 18 other dissident Congress MLAs.
“The floor test will happen; we are going to the assembly. The BAC decides this,” he said, referring to the assembly’s business advisory committee.
THE CM ACCUSED THE BSP OF CREATING ‘UNNECESSARY FUSS’ OVER ITS 6 MLAS MERGING WITH CONG