Setback to BSP as 5 MLAs disqualified

LUCKNOW: In a setback to the Bahujan Samaj Party, Uttar Pradesh Assembly Speaker Mata Prasad Pandey on Saturday disqualified five BSP legislators, who had quit the party to form a separate outfit and later rejoined it following an Allahabad High Court verdict.
     
The five, who were disqualified under the anti-defection act, were Jaiveer Singh, Surendra Vikram Singh, Ramji Shukla, Ram Kishan and Dharmpal.

 

They had quit the BSP along with 33 others in August 2003 and formed the Loktantrik Bahujan Dal before merging it with the Samajwadi Party.

 

They, however, returned to the parent party after the Allahabad High Court judgement.

 

The high court on February 28 quashed the then Speaker's order recognising the split in the BSP and the subsequent merger of the LBD with the SP.

 

LBD chief whip Yogesh Pratap Singh had moved a petition before the Speaker seeking disqualification of the five MLAs as their act of leaving the LBD and joining the BSP attracted provisions of the anti-defection act.

 

Therefore, they were liable to be disqualified, the
petition said.

 

Pandey, who had reserved his ruling after hearing counsel of both sides, announced his decision at a press conference here.