Pressure is mounting on former Union Minister for Coal to quit his Lok Sabha seat after the court sentenced him to life imprisonment.
Bigwigs are now planning to deny tickets to those with criminal antecedents
NEW DELHI: The pressure is mounting on former Union Minister for Coal, Shibu Soren, to quit his Lok Sabha seat after the court sentenced him to life imprisonment in the case related to the murder of his personal assistant Shashinath Jha. The Court’s verdict has also left the Central government and the political bigwigs in an embarrassing situation.
It has been a bad time for politicians. Soren’s conviction last week was followed by test cricketer-turned politician Navjot Singh Sidhu, for assaulting a man in a car park that led to his death.
On Monday, a Bihar court hauled RJD MP Sadhu Yadav into jail in a case of forgery. However, what added to the embarrassment of politicians was that it was for the first time that such a senior member of their class had been convicted on a serious charge like murder.
While opinions within the political circle appeared divided on whether it is legally binding on Soren to quit his Lok Sabha seat or not, there appeared to be a rare unanimity on the damage his conviction had inflicted on the image of politicians and on the parliament. As far as legal position is concerned, under the RPA, he has up to three months time to appeal and if it is turned down, he has no option but to resign.
However, most politicians feel the recent turn of events have cast them in poor light. “It will certainly add to the declining legitimacy of the political class,” said Dwendra Dwivedi, member of the Congress Working Committee. Even Railway Minister Lalu Prasad shared the sentiment, as he said: “We have to uphold the law and he must quit.”
The series of convictions, indeed, came as a rude shock as political bigwigs are now mulling to deny tickets to those with criminal antecedents. “It will certainly dissuade political parties to patronise and give tickets to those who take recourse to crime,” said BJP Rajya Sabha MP Ravishankar Prasad.
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