Rebel SP MLAs served notices over disqualification petition

Lucknow, June 28 (UNI) After disqualification of the Vidhan Sabha membership of five ruling party MLAs, who had rejoined the BSP, now it is the turn of five rebel Samajwadi Party MLAs.

Vidhan Sabha speaker Mata Prasad Pandey issued notices to the rebels, giving them a week's time to reply why their membership should not be terminated under 10th schedule of Anti Defection Law.

The speaker would initiate hearing in the case from July 7.

Principal secretary (assembly) A N Mittal said notices to the five SP legislators had been served seeking reply over charges made in the SP petition.

Mr Pandey served the notices yesterday on a petition filed by SP general secretary and state PWD minister Shivpal Singh Yadav, alleging these MLAs had voted in favour of BSP candidates in the recently concluded Rajya Sabha polls, in violation of the party whip.

The RS elections, held on March 28, witnessed large number of cross voting by the legislators.

The five rebel SP MLAs include Omvati Devi, Sunder Lal, Kamlesh Pathak, Kalyan Singh Dohre and Ratan Lal Ahirwar.

The speaker had already disqualified assembly membership of five MLAs belonging to the Loktrantrik Bahujan Dal (LBD), who had switched over to BSP on March 1 last.

The disqualified LBD members are Jaiveer Singh, Surendra Vikram Singh, Dharampal, Ramji Shukla and Ramkrishna.

However, the disqualified legislators had moved the Supreme Court against the speaker's verdict.

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