BSP renews demand for disqualification of MLAs

Twelve of the BSP MLAs – all of them now members of the Kalyan Singh ministry – had voted in favour of the motion while another MLA H K Srivastava did not cast his vote. The BSP case was that they had defied the whip without splitting the party.

Replying to BSP counsel Umesh Chandra’s question, former advocate general Tripathi said there was no split in BSP in the Assembly record till today. But the assertion of Markanday Chand of BSP rebel group that they had split with the requisite strength of 23 MLAs was a part of House proceedings on October 21, the day of voting, he said. The speaker, however, said Chand had not communicated anything to him in writing to this effect. Declining Chandra’s plea for an interim order on the issue of disqualification, Tripathi said he would give his verdict within a reasonable time. He, however, pointed out that there was no time limit for disposing such cases.