India, April 2 -- The Himachal Pradesh assembly on Wednesday passed a Bill to deny pension benefits to legislators disqualified under the anti-defection law, sparking a showdown between the treasury and opposition benches over the move's legality.

The legislation, initiated by chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, amends the Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly (Allowances and Pension of Members) Act, 1971. It effectively bars pension for any MLA disqualified under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution. The bill was passed by voice vote.

Leader of opposition Jai Ram Thakur led the charge for the BJP, alleging the amendment was born of "political vendetta" against those who recently exited the ruling party. "This is being done with an...