BJP accuses speaker of inaction on 'illegal' merger of BSP MLAs into Cong

Jaipur: BJP has accused speaker CP Joshi of not taking action on their petition in March declaring the merger of six BSP MLAs into the ruling Congress ‘illegal’ under the anti-defection law. Ramganj Mandi BJP MLA Madan Dilawar emailed a letter on Friday reminding the speaker to act on his petition challenging the merger under the constitutional provisions.

The issue hogged national headlines on Saturday after Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati accused chief minister Ashok Gehlot of violating the anti-defection law by merging her party’s MLAs twice (2008-2013 and 2018 term). Dilawar claimed that his petition seeking disqualification was yet to be heard by the speaker’s office even after 4 months.

“Speaker CP Joshi has violated all the constitutional powers that rest on him by being selective in his approach. He has not even served notices to them which has actually put him on the spot and calls for his removal,” said Dilawar.

The merger took place on September 16, 2019 and notified by the speaker on September 19. The six MLAs—Lakhan Singh (Karauli), Rajendra Singh (Udaipurwati), Deep Chand (Kishangarh Bas), Joginder Singh Awana (Nadbai), Sandeep Kumar (Tijara) and Wajib Ali (Nagar).

In a petition, he said the BSP never merged with the Congress. The MLAs have no power or right to merge their party with the Indian National Congress or with any other party. “They have voluntarily given up their membership of the BSP on the ticket they were elected in 2018 assembly polls and joined the Congress which is a clear violation of the provisions of the anti-defection law,” said Dilawar. The disqualification of these six MLAs who are supporting the Gehlot camp will put the government in trouble which is already facing a threat from a section of MLAs of the Pilot camp. The Congress had won 101 seats in the assembly polls and after the BSP MLAs joined them, its strength has gone up to 107 in the 200-seat assembly. Reacting to the allegations of Mayawati and BJP, Wajib Ali told TOI that they have multiple opinions from constitutional experts before taking this lawful decision.

“We are ready to face any legal scrutiny. We have exercised our right and everything was done under the law. BJP is trying to take the political advantage of the given situation,” said Ali over the phone from the five-star hotel where Congress MLAs are lodged.