No pension for MLAs who switch sides; Himachal Pradesh govt passes new bill

SHIMLA: The Congress government in Himachal Pradesh on Wednesday passed a new bill to prevent MLAs from switching sides. As per the new bill, those disqualified under the anti-defection law will not be eligible for pension benefits. The bill related to the matter was introduced in the legislative assembly the other day.

Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu introduced the bill in the assembly. Citing the anti-defection law, the bill states that if a person is disqualified at any stage under the 10th Schedule of the Constitution, they will not be eligible for pension as per law.

Six Congress MLAs who defied the party whip and abstained from voting during the budget presentation were disqualified this year. All these six MLAs voted in favour of the BJP candidate during the Rajya Sabha polls held in February. Although all six of them contested in the subsequent by-elections, only two of them emerged victorious, while the others failed to win.