Only 10 out of 17 Cong MLAs submit affidavits

CHANDIGARH: Notwithstanding the state Congress leadership’s claims that they have received affidavits from all MLAs, only 10 out of 17 party MLAs have given their affidavits on the party high command’s direction that they voted for Independent candidate RK Anand and with the pen provided to them by the Vidhan Sabha Secretariat.

Sushil Manav

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 22

Notwithstanding the state Congress leadership’s claims that they have received affidavits from all MLAs, only 10 out of 17 party MLAs have given their affidavits on the party high command’s direction that they voted for Independent candidate RK Anand and with the pen provided to them by the Vidhan Sabha Secretariat.

Of the 10 legislators, Palwal MLA Karan Singh Dalal has told Anand that his affidavit should not be used unless all other Congress and INLD MLAs submit such affidavits.

Dalal said he would not hesitate to approach court in case Anand used his affidavit without first getting similar statements from all Congress and INLD MLAs.

Following the Rajya Sabha poll debacle in Haryana, the Congress on Monday had sought affidavits from the party MLAs stating that they voted for party supported candidate RK Anand in the elections held on June 11.

Congress Legislative Party (CLP) Leader Kiran Choudhry yesterday told mediapersons that the party had received affidavits from all MLAs. When Tanwar was asked the same question today, he said the party had received affidavits from all those who were asked to give.

He, however, did not specify the number of MLAs who submitted their affidavits.

Sources in the party, however, revealed that only 10 MLAs had given their affidavits. “The party did not need former CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda’s affidavit since his ballot was found blank, Randeep Surjewala’s was not required since it was shown to Kiran Choudhry, Geeta Bhukal and Kiran Choudhry’s votes were rightly cast and hence their affidavits were also not needed. Kuldeep Bishnoi and Renuka Bishnoi are abroad and former speaker Kuldeep Sharma has refused to give affidavit on the ground that his vote was rightly cast,” said the source.

Sharma said that he had neither given his affidavit and nor was it sought from him. Regarding non-submission of affidavit, Sharma said his point was that if the party’s stand was clear that they voted for Anand and with the pen provided by the Vidhan Sabha Secretariat, where was the need to give affidavits.