Two Congress MLAs in Gujarat, who were suspended from the state Assembly on March 14, on Tuesday withdrew their petition challenging the House’s decision from the Gujarat High Court, PTI reported. They withdrew their plea after their suspension period was reduced.
Amrish Der and Baldevji Thakor were earlier barred from attending proceedings in the House for three years and one year respectively, after they were charged with attacking BJP legislator Jagdish Panchal with a microphone during proceedings on March 14. They were immediately suspended along with their colleague Pratap Dudhat, who also received a three-year ban.
Der and Thakor then moved the court, claiming that they had been provoked. They said the suspension was “malicious” as it sought to prevent their party from moving a no-confidence motion against Speaker Rajendra Trivedi.
The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress reached a compromise on Tuesday, and the Opposition party also withdrew a no-trust motion against the Speaker after Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel proposed to reduce the suspension term of the three Congress MLAs till the end of the current session, The Indian Express reported.
His proposal was unanimously passed by a voice vote. Panchal also apologised to the House for his behaviour, but claimed that he had not used abusive language. Congress leader Shailesh Parmar assured the House that Der, Dudhat and Thakor would apologise to the Assembly in the next session.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pradeepsinh Jadeja welcomed the Congress’ decision to withdraw the no-confidence motion. “Paresh Dhanani has convinced his members to withdraw the proposal...is good and I appreciate it,” he said, referring to the leader of the Opposition. “Members such as [BJP chief whip] Pankaj Desai have done good work for the withdrawal of proposal for no confidence.” Desai, who represents Nadiad in the Assembly, was earlier with the Congress.
Shailesh Parmar filed the no-trust motion on February 28, accusing Trivedi of “acting in a biased manner in favour of the ruling BJP”. The 182-member House admitted the motion on March 22, and it was scheduled for discussion and voting by March 28. The BJP has 99 members in the House while the Congress has 77.
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