Will the 9 MLAs quit Assembly?

BY OUR STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI, Nov 10: Will the nine Congress MLAs who joined the BJP recently, resign from the Assembly? This is now the most talked about topic in political circles.

Since the nine MLAs won the 2011 elections with Congress tickets, they cannot join another political party unless and until they resign as legislators. With the anti-defection law being in place, the MLAs can be disqualified from the Assembly if they violate the rule. But the nine Congress MLAs have joined the BJP without resigning from the Assembly or the Congress party.

It may be mentioned that soon after joining the BJP, following instructions from BJP high command, Himanta Biswa Sarma resigned from the Assembly. But the nine MLAs following him to don saffron, mely Pijush Hazarika, Pradan Barua, Bolin Chetia, Pallab Lochan Das, Rajen Borthakur, Kripath Mallah, Abu Taher Bepari, Binda Saikia and Jayanta Mallah Barua — are still enjoying MLA status.

Meanwhile, terming the nine MLAs as opportunists, the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee on Tuesday cautioned the people to be aware of them. Talking to mediapersons, APCC vice-president Ripun Bora said, “The nine MLAs who joined the BJP have not yet resigned from the primary membership of the Congress nor have they resigned from the Assembly. This proves their true colour of being opportunists. They want to enjoy all the benefits of being a MLA even though they have left the party on whose ticket they won the elections.”

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