Making common cause with the AIADMK, Janata Dal (U) on Tuesday welcomed Tamil Nadu Speaker P. Dhanapal’s decision to disqualify 18 rebel legislators, and demanded similar action against two of its rebel Rajya Sabha members, Sharad Yadav and Ali Anwar.
The JD(U), in a statement signed by chief spokesperson K.C. Tyagi, said the decision highlighted the wide powers conferred on the Speaker under the 10th Schedule (Article 102(2) and 192 (2)) of the Constitution.
“The provision includes the conduct of the member outside the House,” Mr. Tyagi said.
He pointed out that the Speaker of the Uttarakhand Assembly had, in 2016, disqualified nine rebel Congress MLAs under the anti-defection law. The JD(U) wanted swift action against its own dissidents.
Mr. Tyagi, on behalf of his party, had asked Mr. Sharad Yadav not to attend the Patna rally of the RJD on August 27 and warned that if he did so, he would be considered to have voluntarily given up the party membership.
The party then approached Rajya Sabha Chairman M. Venkaiah Naidu seeking disqualification of the two MPs.
