SC forwards copy of Congress' affidavit to Speaker in MGP MLAs case

New Delhi, Oct 12 (UNI) The Supreme Court today forwarded the copy of the affidavit filed by the Congress to Goa Assembly Speaker Pratapsinh Rane, stating that the Congress was to withdraw the complaint filed before the Speaker seeking disqualification of two MGP MLAs.

The bench comprising Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan and Justice R V Raveendran forwarded the affidavit during the hearing of the petition filed by two MGP MLAs namely Pandurang alias Deepak Dhadalikar and Ramakrisha alias Sudin Dhadalikar, the two brothers who had earlier withdrawn support to the Digambar Kamat Government, following which the government was reduced to a minority in the 40-member assembly of the coastal state.

The Assembly Speaker in its order dated July 31 restrained the two MLAs from taking part in the trial of strength in the Assembly.

The restraint order was passed by the Speaker on a complaint filed by Congress MLA Agnel Fernandes seeking disqualification under the anti-defection law.

The two MGP MLAs challenged his locus standi to file such a petition contending that he did not belong to their party and the MGP had supported the decision of the two brothers.

Now that the Digambar Government in the state of Goa has managed a majority again, the Congress has decided to withdraw the petition filed by Mr Fernandes before the Assembly Speaker.

The Speaker will now take a decision on the basis of the documents forwarded by the apex court to the Assembly Speaker.

UNI