Jai Narain Prasad Nishad disqualified from Rajya Sabha

New Delhi, Mar 27 (UNI) Rajya Sabha Chairman Hamid Ansari has disqualified Mr Jai Narain Prasad Nishad from the membership of the House with immediate effect and concluded that he had given up his BJP affliation voluntarily, accepting the Committee of Privileges Report of November 20, 2007.

Exercising his powers under article 102(2) read with paragraph 6 of the Tenth Schedule to the Constitution of India, Dr Ansari concluded that by voluntarily giving up his membership of the Bharatiya Janata Party, his original political party, Mr Nishad has become subject to disqualification as member of the Rajya Sabha in terms of paragraph 2(1)(a) of the Tenth Schedule to the Constitution of India. The orders were passed yesterday.

Accordingly, Shri Jai Narain Prasad Nishad has ceased to be a member of the Rajya Sabha with immediate effect, the order passed yesterday said. BJP Deputy Leader in the House Sushma Swaraj had sought Mr Nishad's disqualification under 10th Schedule to the Constitution and rule 6 of the Members of Rajya Sabha (Disqualification on ground of Defection) Rules, 1985 and had sought declaration of Mr Nishad's seat vacant.

Leader of Opposition Jaswant Singh had concurred with Mrs Swaraj and said that the member's conduct of campaigning against the party itself was sufficient evidence to prove that Mr Nishad had given up his membership voluntarily.Mr Nishad on his part had disagreed with the charges made against him.

UNI MCN RP DS1516