Verma yet to appear, panel to wrap up case

The Privileges Committee of the Lok Sabha is likely to wrap up the case for a possible disqualification of rebel Samajwadi Party...

The Privileges Committee of the Lok Sabha is likely to wrap up the case for a possible disqualification of rebel Samajwadi Party member Beni Prasad Verma by submitting an ex-parte report to Speaker Somnath Chatterjee.

8220;We have summoned him thrice, but he has failed to appear before us. We would settle this issue at our next meeting, scheduled for May 15,8221; sources in the Privileges Committee told The Indian Express on Monday. Asked if Verma would be given one more opportunity to put forth his defence, the source said, 8220;We cannot wait for him endlessly.8221;

The source pointed out that 8220;the committee, in any case, can only look into the matter and work out a report8212;the authority for disqualifying a member vests in the Speaker.8221; Chatterjee, they maintained, can give Verma another chance to say whatever he wants to contest the case against him.

Verma, elected on Samajwadi Party ticket from the Kaiserganj constituency of Uttar Pradesh, had floated his own party, Samajwadi Kranti Dal SKF, during the last state Assembly polls. Verma, who contested from Ayodhya under the banner of his fledgling party, was routed along with his nominees in other constituencies.

Thereafter, Ram Gopal Yadav, leader of the Samajwadi Party in the Lok Sabha, petitioned the Speaker seeking Verma8217;s disqualification under the 10th Schedule of the Constitution following his defection from the party. He said Verma, by contesting UP Assembly polls under the banner of SKD, could be considered to have voluntarily given up the membership of the SP. The Speaker referred the petition to the Privileges Committee on January 25 for a 8220;preliminary inquiry.8221;

Given the evidence available against Verma, there is very little that he can do to retain his membership. Contesting the UP Assembly election on the ticket of another party while being a Samajwadi Party member of the Lok Sabha is enough for his disqualification. Coupled with this is his open support to Congress nominees in the polls. The Speaker had unseated three BSP members early this year on the basis of media reports showing their open support to Samajwadi Party.