5 UP MLAs disqualified from assembly

Lucknow, June 10 (UNI) After over four months of political drama, Uttar Pradesh assembly speaker Mata Prasad Pandey today disqualified five MLAs from the state legislative assembly.

These legislators -- Jaiveer Singh, Surendra Vikram Singh, Ramji Shukla, Ram Krishna and Dharampal -- had rejoined the BSP deserting the Loktrantrik Bahujan Dal (LBD) on March 1.

An announcement of their disqualification was made by the Speaker at a crowded news conference here this evening. Sources close to the five MLAs said they would seek legal opinion on the decision.

The MLAs were not present when the decision was announced. ''Like the media, I had informed the parties about the decision...they did not turn up,'' Mr Pandey added.

The five MLAs were part of a 38 MLA group, who split from the BSP on August 26, 2003 to join the ruling Samajwadi Party, which was forming government in UP after Ms Mayawati -- leading the BSP-BJP coalition government -- had resigned.

Two other MLAs had joined the LBD and had merged with the SP subsequently, thereby putting the total number of legislators who had left BSP to 40.

After a High Court decision on February 28 this year, they had expressed willingness to rejoin the BSP.

But, the Speaker rejected their contention and disqualified them.

''I see the split in BSP and the formation of LBD as a willing move by the MLAs..., the LBD had become a separate political entity on August 28, 2001. Therefore, its existence does not depend on the speaker's recognition,'' Mr Pandey said reading out the operative portion of the thick judgement.

He said the Supreme Court too had preserved the identity of the LBD in an interim order on March 24, 2006. Mr Pandey reminded the five had filed affidavits before the Governor expressing willingness to rejoin the BSP after the February 28 ruling of the High Court.

The speaker observed the five legislators had also raised objections about the validity of the LBD.

''Now the issue is that of the five leaving LBD and rejoining the BSP. This is covered by clause 2 (1) (a) read with clause 3 (b) of the 10th Schedule of the Constitution. Therefore, I declare them as disqualified under clause 2(1) of the 10th Schedule.'' Reacting to the disqualification, the Congress said the move was aimed at maintaining the interests of the ruling party. ''While the decision on the split in BSP in 2003 is yet to be announced, the other decision has been announced quickly,'' maintained a Congress spokesperson.

The BJP, however, said it would react after getting a copy of the decision. There were no immediate comments from the BSP.

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