The Jharkhand Assembly Speaker's Tribunal disqualified two legislators on Thursday under the anti-defection law, effective from July 26, according to an official statement. The order came just before the start of the assembly's six-day monsoon session, which begins on Friday.
The disqualified legislators are Lobin Hembrom of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and Jai Prakash Bhai Patel of the Congress. Proceedings were initiated against Hembrom by the JMM and against Patel by the BJP under the anti-defection law.
Hembrom was disqualified for contesting independently from the Rajmahal Lok Sabha seat, challenging the JMM’s official candidate, Vijay Hansdak. Patel joined the Congress ahead of the Lok Sabha polls and contested from the Hazaribag seat. Both were defeated in the elections.
Assembly Speaker Rabindra Nath Mahto delivered the judgment, disqualifying both legislators from the House.
Meanwhile, the JMM leader Lobin Hembrom expressed strong displeasure over expulsion notice. He said, "This doesn't qualify for Anti Defection Law. I didn't join any party, I contested the election as an Independent MLA...But I did that to protect Rajmahal Lok Sabha seat...If you consider that wrong, send me a showcase notice...I would have given a clarification on the notice. But none of this happened. They boycotted me on social media beforehand...They took action because they feared that I would come to the Assembly and raise questions on issues...Speaker is under pressure. He should not do this. Speaker has to be neutral..."
(With inputs from PTI)
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