Chouhan hints at restoring membership of two Cong MLAs

The membership of both Chaturvedi and Parulekar was annulled by the state Assembly through a majority voice vote yesterday, following a ruckus created by the Congress in the House, while demanding a debate on the issue of recent I-T raids on the premises of two businessmen, known to be close to the ruling BJP.

"I am deeply pained at the decision of the termination of the membership of the two MLAs," Chouhan told reporters.

Chouhan also discussed the issue with the Assembly Speaker Ishwardas Rohani and the Parliamentary Affairs Minister Narottam Mishra in this regard.

The Chief Minister has entrusted the responsibility of restoring the membership of the two Congress members to the Industries Minister Kailash Vijaywargiya, sources said.

The minister, who is now holding talks with the legal experts in this regard, said that the Leader of Opposition Ajay Singh and the Deputy Speaker Harvansh Singh have taken an initiative in this regard.

When asked whether it was possible to restore the membership of any member in the event of Election Commission already notifying the two seats as vacant, Vijaywargiya cited the case of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. He said that despite her membership being annulled by the Lok Sabha and also notified by the Election Commission, the Lower House had again restored her membership.

The membership of the two Congress MLAs had been terminated for allegedly misbehaving with MLA Gyan Singh, who was chairing the House yesterday. When Gyan Singh did not pay heed to their demands, the two MLAs had climbed up the podium and virtually forced him to leave the Chair.