No Pensions For Party-Hopping MLAs In Himachal, Sukhu Govt Moves New Amendment Bill

Last Updated:April 02, 2026, 08:39 IST

The Himachal government has introduced a bill to curb defections. MLAs disqualified under the anti-defection law will lose pensions and permanent benefits

The Himachal government has taken a significant step to curb defections by MLAs. During the Budget Session of the Assembly on Wednesday, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu presented the Himachal Pradesh Assembly Allowances and Pension Amendment Bill, 2026.

Once enacted, the bill will prevent lawmakers disqualified under the anti-defection law from receiving pension benefits.

Key Provisions Of The Amendment

The bill explicitly states that members elected to the 14th Assembly or later, who are declared disqualified under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution (anti-defection law), will not be entitled to a pension. To enforce this, a new sub-section (2-A) has been added to Section 6-B of the existing 1971 Act.

The government has observed that the current law lacks sufficient provisions to discourage legislators from switching parties after an election. Elected representatives occasionally change parties contrary to the public mandate, undermining both democratic processes and public trust.

This amendment is therefore seen as an important measure to strengthen democracy and safeguard the electorate’s mandate.

Current Pension Structure

Presently, legislators who serve a full five-year term are entitled to a pension of Rs 50,000 per month, with additional increments for extended service. For more than one term, an extra Rs 1,000 per month is awarded for each additional year of service. From 2030, pensions will be revised every five years in accordance with the inflation index.

In the event of a legislator’s death, their family receives 50% of the pension. This amendment is viewed as a significant step towards increasing political integrity and accountability, aiming to protect the people’s mandate and uphold democratic values.

Political analysts note that the amendment sends a strong signal to lawmakers: switching parties will carry not only political but also financial consequences. The loss of permanent benefits, such as pension, may make legislators reconsider before changing parties in the future.

Lawmakers Who Will Lose Pension

Currently, Himachal Pradesh is in its 14th Assembly session. During the 2024 Rajya Sabha elections, six Congress MLAs cross-voted, resulting in BJP candidate Harsh Mahajan being elected as a Rajya Sabha MP. The MLAs involved were:

• Sudhir Sharma
• Rajendra Rana
• Inder Dutt Lakhanpal
• Ravi Thakur
• Chaitanya Sharma
• Devendra Bhutto

At that time, Congress had issued a whip requiring MLAs to be present for the vote on the appropriation bill, but these six were absent, violating the whip. Consequently, they were declared disqualified.

Among them, Chaitanya Sharma and Devendra Bhutto were first-time MLAs and lost their membership due to party switching. In the subsequent by-elections, the BJP fielded all six candidates; however, Devendra Bhutto, Ravi Thakur, and Chaitanya Sharma were defeated. The remaining four had previously served as MLAs.

Following the amendment, Chaitanya Sharma and Devendra Kumar Bhutto will forfeit their pension and other benefits, while the remaining MLAs remain eligible for pension from their service in the 12th and 13th Assemblies.

Next Steps For The Bill

After discussion in the assembly, the amendment bill will be passed and forwarded to the governor for approval. Once the governor signs the bill, the provisions of the amended law will come into effect.

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