While the decision to disqualify nine rebel MLAs of the Uttarakhand Congress had been taken on Saturday night, an official confirmation from the Speaker Govind Singh Kunjwal came only on Sunday evening.
A notice was served on the MLAs on March 19, a day after they created uproar in the State Assembly. On Sunday, the Speaker disqualified them under the anti-defection law.
“I have heard both the parties and I gave the rebel MLAs an extra day’s time to present their views,” Mr Kunjwal said on Sunday evening. “The nine MLAs have been disqualified only after a detailed hearing with their lawyers.”
The MLAs — Vijay Bahuguna, Kunwar Pranav Singh Champion, Harak Singh Rawat, Shaela Rani Rawat, Pradip Batra, Shailendra Mohan Singhal, Amrita Rawat, Subodh Uniyal and Umesh Sharma — had requested the Speaker for more time to present their side. They would now approach the court, Mr. Harak Singh told the media on Sunday.
With the disqualification, the 70-member Uttarakhand Assembly now has 61 members, of whom only 27 represent the Congress.