Disqualification of four rebel JD-U legislators quashed

In a major setback to Bihar's ruling JD-U, the Patna High Court Tuesday quashed the state assembly speaker's decision to terminate membership of four rebel party legislators.

Observing that "defection and dissent were not synonyms", a bench of Justice J.P.Sharan quashed the decision of Speaker Uday Narayan Choudhary terminating membership of four Janata Dal-United legislators under the anti-defection law after the ruling party had sought action against them over alleged cross-voting in the Rajya Sabha by-poll.

Soon after the much-awaited court's decision came in their favour, the four legislators -Gyanendra Singh Gyanu, Neeraj Kumar Bablu, Rahul Sharma and Ravindra Rai - and their supporters celebrated by distributing sweets, beating drums, playing with colours. Some followers of Bablu even opened fire in the air to express their happiness.

Gyanu told media that it was a victory of democracy over dictatorship of former chief minister Nitish Kumar in the JD-U, while Rain said the court had vindicated their stand that the speaker was wrong in terminating their membership.

All four legislators were also expelled from the party in November 2014.

Nitish Kumar refused to say anything on the court's ruling, while the JD-U has said it will challenge the verdict.

However, the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party has invited the four to join the party.