Judgement on plea for Bhajan Lal's disqualification

Chandigarh, Mar 24 (UNI) Haryana assembly Speaker Raghuvir Singh Kadian today reserved judgement on a petition seeking disqualification of former chief minister and suspended Congress MLA Bhajan Lal under the anti-defection law for launching a new political outfit.

Speaker Kadian told reporters that Mr Bhajan Lal was asked to appear before the Vidhan Sabha tribunal today to explain his position as to whether or not he still belonged to the Congress on whose ticket he was elected to the Assembly.

The disgruntled Congress leader had launched Haryana Janhit Congress (BL) in a rally on December two in Rohtak and had installed his MP son Kuldeep Bishnoi as its president.

The Speaker said Mr Bhajan Lal neither appeared before the tribunal nor did he send a counsel to represent him today. He was earlier called before the tribunal on March 8 but on that day, his counsel had sought adjournment of his hearing in the wake of death of his grandson.

Two Bhajan Lal loyalists and suspended Congress MLAS--Dharam Pal Malik and Rakesh Kamboj--had already been disqualified for attending the Rohtak rally after failing to explain their position to the Speaker on the matter. Mr Bishnoi resigned from the Lok Sabha in protest against their disqualification.

The Speaker said petitioner Shadi Lal Batra, MLA, completed his arguments and reserved the judgement in the matter.

UNI MA PK RK2014