3 Tmc Members Resign From Rajya Sabha

Three Rajya Sabha MPs of the Tamil Maanila Congress (TMC), including chief G K Moopanar and Union minister Jayanthi Natarajan have resigned from the House following a petition seeking their disqualification on the grounds of defection as they were members of the Congress on the records of the House.

Rajya Sabha sources said their resignations have been accepted. The third TMC member is Peter Alphonse. The petition to House chairman Krishna Kant was submitted by Shiv Sena member Sanjay Nirupam who sought their disqualification on the ground that they were elected on Congress ticket, but had joined the TMC later.

Moopanar said in Chennai they had resigned on `technical points. He said it was for Prime Minister I K Gujral to decide whether Natarajan should continue in office, but said she could anyway continue for six months.

Moopanar was expelled from the Congress in April 1996 when he formed the TMC in protest against the decision of the party high command decision to align with the AIADMK for the Lok Sabha and assembly elections. He said even though he had indicated that the three might have to resign some time ago, he had also waited for Congress chief Sitaram Kesri to demand their resignation.