Uttarakhand speaker disqualifies two MLAs for cross voting in floor test

Uttarakhand Assembly speaker Govind Kunjwal on 9 June suspended two legislators - BJP MLA Bhim Lal Arya and Congress MLA Rekha Arya - for cross-voting during the floor test held on 10 May.

Both the legislators have been disqualified under the anti-defection law for going against the whip issued by their parties and cross voting during the Supreme Court-monitored floor test, Kunjwal told PTI.

"There was enough evidence against them to prove that they went against the whips of their parties and action was taken on that basis," he said.

This is the second such action by the Speaker who had on March 27 disqualified nine Congress MLAs who had revolted against Chief Minister Harish Rawat and joined hands with BJP.

There are now 60 MLAs in the 71-seat legislature.

After a Supreme Court order, the Assembly held a floor test on 10 May. Congress Chief Minister Harish Rawat - who battled internal rebellion as well as outside opposition - won the trust vote, which won him the CM's chair again.

Rawat came back to power nearly a month after the central government imposed President's Rule in the state.

--with inputs from PTI