BLD legislators approach SC following disqualification

New Delhi, June 19 (UNI) Five Bahujan Lok Dal legislators, a breakaway faction of the Bahujan Samaj Party in Uttar Pradesh, have approached the Supreme Court challenging the June 10 order of Assembly Speaker Mata Prasad Pandey disqualifying them as MLAs for violating their party whip during the Rajya Sabha polls.

The petitioners have prayed for interim stay against the impuned order passed by the Speaker on the complint of BLD leader Yogendra Pratap Singh.

Mr Singh filed a complaint against them, alleging they had voted against the party whip and were therefore covered by the provision of anti-defection law as their strength was below one third of the total strength.

Forty-two BSP MLAs including the five applicants had defected from the BSP to form a new group to help SP leader Malayam singh Yadav cobble up a majority in the Assmbly to form a government in September 2003.

Their defection from the BSP and subsequent joining the SP was challenged in the Allahabad High Court.

However, their defection as well joining the SP were declared ''illegal'' by the Alladabad High Court.

These five MLAs rejoined BSP after resigning from the state cabinet and voted as BSP MLAs in the Rajya sabha elections.

Earlier, the apex court had refused to grant a stay against the fresh procceedings initiated by the speaker on the complaint of BLD.

UNI AKS/SC AK PM2053