Bhajan Lal disqualified

The development came barely days after 77-year-old Bhajan Lal8217;s loyalist MLAs, Dharam Pal Malik Gohana and Rakesh Kamboj Indri, were disqualified by the Speaker under the same law. With the disqualification of the three, the strength of the ruling Congress has now been reduced to 64 in the House.

Earlier, Bishnoi, MP from Bhiwani, had submitted his resignation from the Lok Sabha. Bhajan Lal was ignored by the Congress high command for leading the state when it returned to power in February 2005. While Bhajan Lal and younger son Bishnoi had declared open rebellion after this, his elder son Chander Mohan is Deputy Chief Minister in archrival Bhupinder Singh Hooda8217;s government.

Speaker Kadian read out the summary of his 55-page order in his office on Tuesday after the Assembly was adjourned for the day.

The Speaker pointed out that though he could have taken suo motu decision to disqualify the former chief minister, he had given him several chances to present his view, which he never did.

8220;We allowed him to file a one-line response by holding a press conference, which he never did8230; The only question involved in this case was whether Lal is still the member of the INC or he has voluntarily given up its membership, but neither the respondent nor his counsel came out with a clear stand,8221; Kadian said.