Jailed in fodder scam,Lalu Prasad Yadav disqualified from Lok Sabha

The disqualification of the two MPs comes following the Supreme Court judgement that struck down a provision protecting a convicted lawmaker from disqualification on the ground of pendency of appeal in higher courts.

Lalu was on October 3 sentenced to five years rigorous imprisonment by a special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court. JD(U) MP Jagdish Sharma,on the other hand was given four years rigorous imprisonment each.

In a body blow to RJD before next year’s Lok Sabha polls,the CBI court on September 30 had convicted Lalu and Jagdish rendering them ineligible for contesting elections for at least six years.

On Monday,convicted Congress leader Rasheed Masood became the first MP to lose his seat after the July 10 Supreme Court judgement that struck down sub-section 4 of Section 8 of Representation of the People Act,under which incumbent MPs,MLAs and MLCs can avoid disqualification till pendency of the appeal against conviction in a higher court. The appeal has to be made within three months of the conviction.

(With PTI inputs)