Left seeks Bengal governor's intervention in removing convicted MLA

The Left Front on Tuesday sought the intervention of West Bengal Governor K.N. Tripathi for the disqualification of Trinamool Congress legislator Sohrab Ali who has been convicted by a court.

Ali, who represents Raniganj assembly constituency in Burdwan district, was convicted in a 1995 theft case and sentenced to two years in prison by a court on September 8.

Citing a Supreme Court judgment of 2013, the Left Front Legislative Party in a letter to Tripathi questioned the Trinamool's silence over Ali's disqualification.

"Though the verdict in Ali's case was delivered on September 8, till Monday, the state assembly has not been informed by the government about the same as the speaker announced in the house on September 21.

"It is strange and surprising that the state government could remain silent on such an important issue relating to disqualification of a sitting member in utter disregard to the laws and the Constitution for reasons best known to them," read the letter.

"It is our earnest appeal and request that necessary steps be taken on urgent basis to declare the seat held by Sohrab Ali vacant as per article 192 of the Constitution," said the letter signed by representatives of the CPI-M led Left Front.

Speaking to journalists later, Leader of Opposition Surjya Kanta Mishra accused the Mamata Banerjee government of "trying to hush up" the matter.

"The government's silence of the matter is a clear indication of it trying to hush up the matter. That is why we have sought the governor's intervention," said Mishra, who is also the Communist Party of India-Marxist state secretary.