UP legislative assembly disqualifies 13 MLAs

Lucknow, Feb 19: Uttar Pradesh legislative assembly today issued notification disqualifying 13 MLAs with retrospective effect from August 27, 2003 following a Supreme Court judgement on February 14.

The notification was issued this evening by Principal Secretary (assembly) A N Mittal, in line with the SC verdict.

The Assembly Secretariat has also notified the vacancy of assembly seats, following the disqualfication and have informed the Election Commission accordingly.

Later, talking to mediapersons, assembly speaker Mata Prasad Pandey said he was also considering the fate of the remaining 24 MLAs of the total 37 Loktantrik Bahujan Dal (LBD) legislators, who had left BSP and had later merged with SP, enabling Mulayam Singh Yadav form an alternative government in UP in August, 2003.

''I will take decision on their fate after taking legal advice from the Advocate General and legal experts, '' Mr Pandey said adding he was yet to receive the certified copy of the SC judgement.

Incidentally, Governor T V Rajeswar had sought details on the future of the 24 MLAs from the speaker yesterday.

UNI