7 MLAs to lose membership if affiliated with JKDF: Speaker

Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Oct 25: In a significant political development, Legislative Assembly Speaker Mohammad Akbar Lone said today that he was examining the role of Prof Chaman Lal Gupta, MLA Jammu West and his six colleagues in the Assembly with Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Front (JKDF) as their association with the political group could invite the provisions of Anti-Defection Law, leading to their disqualification from the Assembly and losing membership of the House.
Three JKDF activists had jumped inside the Legislative Assembly carrying flag of their political party during autumn session of the Legislature protesting bias in employment policy of the Government towards Jammu region. The JKDF activists had entered the Civil Secretariat in the vehicle of expelled BJP MLA from Basohli, Jagdish Raj Sapolia and had gained entry inside the gallery on the basis of passes issued by Mr Sapolia.
“I am studying the affiliation of BJP MLAs including Prof Chaman Lal Gupta (leader of the group) with the JKDF. If any of the BJP MLAs is found affiliated with JKDF, he would invite provisions of Anti-Defection Law and disqualified from membership of the Lower House’’, Mr Lone told the Excelsior.
While the BJP had expelled seven party MLAs out of a total of 11 in the Lower House after cross-voting in April 13, 2011 elections to the Legislative Council and sought their disqualification as MLAs under Anti-Defection Law, the Speaker continued to consider all seven as BJP MLAs and Prof Gupta as their Legislature Party leader in the Assembly.
The Speaker had said that all seven would continue as BJP MLAs unless and until there was some adverse order from the Court, where the rebel group had challenged their suspension by the party.
However, the incident involving the intrusions into the Assembly by three JKDF activists has added a new twist and kept the fate of seven rebel BJP MLAs hanging in the balance. Prof Gupta’s son, Anil Gupta, heads the JKDF.
Mr Lone said he was going into the affiliation of seven BJP MLAs with the JKDF, which has been established as a political organisation.
“I am studying the press releases, newspaper cuttings and going into other records pertaining to the JKDF. If any of the seven MLAs including Prof Gupta were found affiliated with JKDF, they would invite provisions of Anti-Defection Law and disqualified from the Assembly, losing their membership of the House well ahead of the completion of term of the Lower House’’, the Speaker said.
As per the Anti-Defection Law, defection to any other political party by a MLA could lead to his disqualification from the House. The Speaker said he was studying provisions of the law as well as affiliation of some of the MLAs with the JKDF.
Anil Gupta had floated the JKDF after expulsion of his father, Prof Chaman Lal Gupta and six other MLAs from the BJP. Anil Gupta was himself vice president of the State unit of the BJP. The JKDF has gained foothold in some parts of Jammu.
All seven expelled BJP MLAs have refrained from joining or openly affiliating with the JKDF. However, it was during autumn session of the Legislature that three JKDF activists had entered the Civil Secretariat in the vehicle of expelled BJP MLA Jagdish Raj Sapolia.
Later they had gained entry in the gallery on the basis of passes issued by Mr Sapolia and jumped into Well of the House creating ruckus before they were removed by the Watch and Ward staff. The security breach had led to suspension of three staff members.
However, the JKDF had managed to shot into limelight by highlighting the cause of unemployment in Jammu region.
Six other MLAs, who had been expelled by the BJP along with Prof Gupta, included Mr Sapolia, MLA Basohli, Master Lal Chand, MLA Bani, Durga Dass, MLA Hiranagar, Prof Gharu Ram, MLA RS Pura, Baldev Raj Sharma, MLA Reasi and Bharat Bushan, MLA Domana.
The BJP high command had expelled them for indulging in cross voting in April 13, 2011 elections to six seats of Legislative Council in favour of ruling National Conference and Congress candidates. BJP candidate, Ranjit Singh had polled four votes even as the BJP had 11 MLAs.

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