A case of defection will be filed against Kamlesh Singh, the only MLA of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) in Jharkhand. The first hearing in this case will be held on October 12 in the tribunal of Speaker Rabindranath Mahato. Information about this has been sent to the plaintiff and defendant on behalf of the Speaker’s Tribunal.
MLA Singh has been asked by the tribunal to appear in the first hearing and answer orally or in writing himself or through his advocate. Speaker Mahato will hear the case of defection on the basis of the 10th Schedule of the Constitution. After the split in NCP, MLA Jitendra Awhad of Sharad Pawar group had applied to Speaker Mahato to file a case of defection against MLA Singh.
On the complaint of Maharashtra MLA Awahad, the hearing of defection has started against MLA Singh. In the complaint letter sent to the Speaker, Jitendra had said that MLA Singh was working beyond the party line. He is working against the policy principles of the party. It is noteworthy that some NCP MLAs in Maharashtra had joined the BJP coalition government with Ajit Pawar. Whereas Sharad Pawar group is with India alliance. Both the groups are making their respective claims on NCP’s election symbol ‘Watch’.
After the complaint against Jharkhand MLA Singh, Ajit Pawar group leader and former Union Minister had come forward in defence. He had sent a letter to the Jharkhand Assembly saying that a case of defection cannot be filed against his MLA Singh in Jharkhand. At present this matter is with the Election Commission. In such a situation, no case can be made against them.
After the complaint of Maharashtra MLA Jitendra Awhad, Speaker Rabindranath Mahato had asked MLA Kamlesh Singh to present his side in writing by 27 September. However, the Ajit Pawar faction had already made it clear to the Jharkhand Assembly that NCP MLA Singh is with them. MLA Shri Singh has also replied to the notice saying that he is in Ajit Pawar faction.
