Three BJP MlAs, including Dr Harsh Vardhan, who were elected to lok Sabha, quit their membership of Delhi Assembly on Thursday. A senior official at the Delhi assembly said Chandni Chowk MP Vardhan, South Delhi MP Ramesh Bidhuri and West Delhi MP Parvesh Verma resigned as MlAs.
“All the three MlAs who were elected to lok Sabha submitted their resignation to the assembly Speaker MS Dhir,” he said. With the resignation of the three MlAs, BJP’s strength in the assembly has come down to 28 from 31.
Vardhan, who has been made Union Health Minister, won from prestigious Chandni Chowk lok Sabha seat defeating AAP’s Ashutosh and Congress’ Kapil Sibal. Bidhuri defeated Devinder Sehrawat of AAP by a margin of over one lakh votes in South Delhi constituency. Bidhuri was MlA from Tughlakabad constituency. Verma defeated Jarnail Singh of AAP by a margin of 2.68 lakh votes in West Delhi parliamentary constituency. He had won the assembly polls from Mehrauli constituency. As per the rules, an elected member has to quit from either of the two houses within 15 days. The results of the lS elections were declared on May 16.
In the Delhi Assembly, Vardhan represented Krishna Nagar assembly segment for 21 years in a row. “Dr Harsh Vardhan has submitted his resignation from the membership of Delhi Assembly. He, however, continues to be the Delhi BJP president,” said Delhi BJP spokesperson Harish Khurana. However, at a later stage, Vardhan will also have to quit from the state unit presidentship as the BJP constitution does not permit dual position for any leader. Vardhan began his political career in 1993 winning the Assembly election from Krishna Nagar. Since then he went on to win all subsequent elections in 1998, 2003, 2008 and 2013 from the seat.