In an attempt to put an end to the ongoing speculations surrounding Tosham MLA Kiran Choudhry’s party affiliations, Haryana Vidhan Sabha Speaker Gian Chand Gupta has clarified that as per official records, she continues to be a member of the Congress party.
Addressing the media recently, the Speaker said the Vidhan Sabha register still lists Kiran Choudhry as a Congress MLA. When questioned if she would be allotted a separate seat in the upcoming assembly session, Gupta remained firm, stating “No, she will be considered part of the Congress block until she formally resigns from the party or gets disqualified.”
This statement from the Speaker comes in response to allegations leveled by Congress whip BB Batra and Deputy CLP leader Aftab Ahmed against dismissing their disqualification petition against Choudhry. The Congress leaders had accused Gupta of bias, alleging his decision was premeditated due to his affiliation with the ruling party.
Refuting the charges, Gupta highlighted procedural lapses in the petition submitted, pointing out that it lacked the mandatory signatures and verification as per rules. He emphasized that guidelines must be adhered to for any petition to be considered legitimate. The Speaker also commented on the opposition’s failure to thoroughly study rules and previous similar cases.
Meanwhile, the row is ongoing, with Congress continuing to question the Speaker’s neutrality in his handling of the matter. They argue the verdict overlooked constitutional provisions regarding defection, as outlined in a past Supreme Court ruling. However, as per Vidhan Sabha rolls, Kiran Choudhry’s official party designation remains unchanged for now. Future developments will provide further clarity on her political standing.
