Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh assembly has on Saturday disqualified Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator from Pawai (Panna district) Prahlad Singh Lodhi after he was punished with two year of imprisonment in an old case. After winning the Jhabua by-election, the tally of Congress in the 230 seat State assembly, is 115. After the BJP MLA has been convicted for two years’ imprisonment, he lost his membership from the House. This way, the BJP’s tally remains only 107 in the House.
The State Assembly Secretariat issued an order in this regard on Saturday evening. Besides, an intimation regarding vacancy of one seat in the House, has been sent to the Election Commission.
BJP MLA Prahlad Singh Lodhi has been punished by the court in connection to an old case in which Lodhi and his associated had assaulted a tahsildar in the district. As per the Supreme Court of India, an MLA could be the expelled from the assembly in case he or she is delivered two or more years of imprisonment by any Court. After the court recently pronounced the verdict against the BJP MLA, the Assembly Secretariat has summoned a copy of the verdict which it would examine and take a call on the fate of the MLA.
Public Relations minister PC Sharma speaking to the media persons on Saturday said that law has a provision of nullifying any MLA’s membership to assembly in case the lawmaker is punished with the jail term of two years or more. Sources claimed that if the legal provisions are found against Lodhi, is membership to Assembly could well be terminated.
Lodhi claimed that he was framed in the case under a political conspiracy. He said that he would brief his party about the matter and would also present all these facts before the court. Lodhi is not alone have been convicted by a court as recently special Court had punished Congress Sheopur MLA Babu Jandel with one year of imprisonment in connection to a violent protest held in the district under the leadership of Jandel. However, the SC verdict which offers reprieve to those MLAs convicted for less than two years of imprisonment, has put Jandel’s membership to MP assembly out of danger.
