High Court notice to Rajasthan Speaker, 6 BSP ‘rebels’

Jaipur, July 30

The Rajasthan High Court on Thursday issued notices to the Speaker and secretary of the State Legislative Assembly and six MLAs, who contested elections on the BSP ticket and then defected to the Congress.

Horse-trading ‘rates’ up, claims CM Gehlot

Jaipur: Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot claimed on Thursday that the money offered to MLAs to switch sides increased sharply after the announcement of the Assembly session date, up from Rs10 crore as the “first instalment” to whatever they asked. Gehlot also accused BSP supremo Mayawati of acting at the behest of the BJP. PTI

The court issued the notices while hearing the writ petitions filed by the BSP and BJP MLA Madan Dilawar against the six lawmakers defecting to the Congress.

“The notices have been issued to the Speaker and secretary of the Assembly and six MLAs. They have to submit their replies by August 11,” a counsel for Dilawar said.

In his petition, Dilawar has also challenged the Speaker’s July 24 decision to reject his complaint filed in March against the BSP MLAs joining the Congress.

The Bench of Justice Mahendra Kumar Goyal issued the notices while hearing the petitions. The next hearing in the matter is on August 11. — PTI