CPI(M) can get its MPs re-elected, boasts of base in WB

New Delhi, June 8 (UNI) Emboldened by victory in recent assembly polls in West Bengal and Kerala, the CPI(M) today ridiculed those who believe that the Left party is scared of getting its MPs involved in the Office of Profit controversy elected saying unnecessary expenses of another poll was the real concern.

"It is also not apologetic about its criticism of the Election Commission either in the way it has handled the complaint from Trinamul Congress member about the CPI(M) MPs holding the Office of Profit", the CPI(M) said in an editorial in the party Weekly organ People's Democracy.

The Left party also termed" simply farce" the main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party ( BJP)'s vehemently opposing the legislation passed by Parliament after having done the same thing in Jharkhand, and said it had only exposed its" pettifogging opportunism." The CPI(M) said its stand that Parliament should adopt the bill again and send it to the President as per Article 111 of the Constitution is being pilloried as a crass move to protect its MPs who are guilty of holding offices of profit.

Detailing how it said a section of the press and senior journalists accused the party of protecting the offices of profit of its MPs and pontificated that the Left is being immoral in wanting Parliament to legislate to protect its MPs, the CPI(M) stressed that" Every non-legislative post is not an office of profit." Secondly, under the Constitution it is the basic right of Parliament to decide which posts to exempt from the purview of disqualification. It has the right to make a law to exempt members of parliament from disqualification for holding an office of profit.

"The Prevention of Disqualification Act of 1959 was enacted to provide this mechanism to exempt persons from holding what are deemed as offices of profit. It is the periodic amendment of this Act which is required so that MPs can continue to hold non-legislative offices." More UNI KSA RP PM1817