RS MP disqualified under defection act

By Our Special Correspondent

New Delhi

July 5: Rajya Sabha member Isam Singh was on Saturday disqualified from the House for quitting the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and forming his own political outfit.

The order by Rajya Sabha chairperson Hamid Ansari held that Mr Singh had voluntarily relinquished his membership of the BSP by which he was set up as a candidate for election to the Rajya Sabha from the state of Uttar Pradesh.

Mr Singh was expelled from the BSP on September 3, 2006 for indulging in anti-party activities following which he formed a new party, the Bahujan Kranti Party, on September 10, 2006 and became its national president and thus voluntarily gave up his position of the BSP, the Rajya Sabha privileges committee, which was petitioned in the matter, said.

BSP chief Mayawati, in her comments, agreed with the contention of the petitioner and contended that Mr Singh, who had been elected to the Rajya Sabha from Uttar Pradesh as a candidate of the BSP, was expelled for violating the party norms.

The committee observed that if a member joins another party either because of his expulsion or otherwise, an inference can be drawn even in the absence of formal resignation.