Speaker requested to disqualify three Legislators

Ranchi, Sep 7 (UNI) Armed with seven-day lifeline to prove its majority in the House, the BJP-led NDA government has swung into action.

In a recent development, party Legislators had filed petitions before the Jharkhand Assembly demanding disqualification of three Legislators - Kamlesh Singh, Anos Ekka and former Deputy Chief Minister Stephen Marandi.

Among the three MLAs, Kamlesh Singh and Anos Ekka were the former Ministers in the BJP-led-NDA government. Both of them resigned from the Cabinet on September 5 reducing the Ministry to minority. Former Deputy Chief Minister Stephen Marandi was an Independent candidate.

Three separate petitions had been filed by BJP Legislators Saryu Rai, Dinesh Sarangi, Chandresh Oraon, Putkar Hembrom and Sameer Oraon demanding disqualification of the membership of the three MLAs.

Referring the case of Nationalist Congress Party Legislator Kamlesh Singh, the petitioner said Mr Singh had voted in support of the BJP-led NDA government against the whip, issued by his party in March, 2005.

Taking this plea, the petitioner said it was a violation of the tenth schedule of the Constitution.

In the case of Stephen Marandi, the petitioner said Mr Marandi joined the Jharkhand Vikas Morcha after winning the Assembly election as an Independent candidate, which comes under Anti-defection law.

The petition against Anos Ekka stated that the latter also voted against the whip of his Jharkhand Party.

The petitioners urged the Speaker to give his decision soon in this regard.

UNI AM SJC RN1459