Cong to challenge Speaker's ruling in court

Bhopal, Aug 11 (UNI) Describing as 'unfortunate' rejection of a petition seeking disqualification of Rashtriya Samanata Dal MLA Hari Vallabh Shukla under the anti-defection law, the Congress today said it will appeal against Madhya Pradesh Assembly Speaker's ruling in the court.

In her reaction, Leader of the Opposition Jamuna Devi said Mr Shukla attracted disqualification under anti-defection law as he contested the 2004 Lok Sabha election from Guna on BJP ticket despite being a RSD member.

Criticising the ruling of Speaker Ishwardas Rohani rejecting Congress MLA Ramniwas Rawat's petition in this regard, Ms Jamuna Devi said ''democracy was bound to weaken when those holding constitutional posts acted in a partisan manner.'' Challenging the Speaker's argument that RSD and BJP had poll alliance, she said both parties had no such alliance in the state for the Lok Sabha election.

''There is no such provision that those contesting poll in alliance will not attract disqualification under the anti-defection law. Even in the event of poll alliance, a candidate belonging to an alliance partner contests on the symbol of his own party and not on the symbol of other alliance partner'', she added.

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