The Hindu : National : BJP seeks disqualification of 10 party MLAs

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Feb 18, 2007
ePaper


<SCRIPT language='JavaScript1.1' SRC="http://ad.doubleclick.net/adj/N4322.hinduonline/B2155503.3;abr=!ie;sz=468x60;ord=[timestamp]?"> </SCRIPT> <NOSCRIPT> <A HREF="http://ad.doubleclick.net/jump/N4322.hinduonline/B2155503.3;abr=!ie4;abr=!ie5;sz=468x60;ord=[timestamp]?"> <IMG SRC="http://ad.doubleclick.net/ad/N4322.hinduonline/B2155503.3;abr=!ie4;abr=!ie5;sz=468x60;ord=[timestamp]?" BORDER=0 WIDTH=468 HEIGHT=60 ALT="Click Here"></A> </NOSCRIPT>

National

National

BJP seeks disqualification of 10 party MLAs

Neena Vyas

They violated anti-defection law, Tandon writes to Speaker

NEW DELHI: In a bid to get the Samajwadi Party Government dislodged ahead of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party is seeking the disqualification of 10 of its MLAs who on January 25 defied a whip and voted for the trust motion moved by Chief Minister Mulayam Singh.Acting on the decision taken by BJP president Rajnath Singh late on Friday night after consultations with party leaders, leader of the Opposition Lalji Tandon has written to the Speaker asking for the disqualification of Shivendra Singh, Mahendra Singh Yadav, Shobran Singh, Choteylal Verma, Ravindra Pundir, Sandeep Aggarwal, Shyam Singh Aheria, Amarjit Singh, Chandramani Kant Singh and Rajiv Pratap Singh.

Announcing this here on Saturday, party vice-president Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said the Speaker must act immediately on the BJP's letter as from the records of the Assembly proceedings it could easily be established that the 10 MLAs had violated the anti-defection law.

However, the party leadership here does not believe the Speaker will take quick action. It points out that no decision has yet been taken on the September 13, 2006 BJP plea for disqualification of three of these 10 MLAs — Mahendra Singh Yadav, Shyam Singh Aheria and Amarjit Singh — for going with the Samajwadi Party. But the leadership is hopeful that the Speaker will not blatantly ignore the BJP's lawful plea that the 10 MLA be not allowed to vote on February 26, when Mr. Mulayam Singh moves another trust motion.

The BJP believes that the SP may not be able to win the trust vote if these 10 MLAs are not allowed to vote.

These members, and the 13 BSP defectors disqualified by the Supreme Court voted for the government on January 25.

The BJP reiterated that the "unconstitutional" Mulayam Singh Government must be dismissed and President's rule imposed to ensure free and fair elections in the State.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National