The Election Commission will initiate steps to fill up the seats of convicted and disqualified lawmakers, including lalu Prasad, only after they are declared vacant.
lalu, who is lok Sabha MP from Saran in Bihar, another member of the lower house Jagdish Sharma and Rajya Sabha member Rasheed Masood stand disqualified after their conviction in corruption cases in view of the Supreme Court order quashing a provision in the Representation of the People Act that provided immunity to lawmakers.
“Regarding those MPs, the vacancy consequent to court action has to be notified by the Speaker of the House concerned. After that only
further action by the Commission will arise,” Chief Election Commissioner V S Sampath told reporters when asked about the fate of their seats.
Election Commissioner HS Brahma also said the Commission will initiate further action only after Parliament informs the Commission about the vacancy.
Till now, the lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha seats of both lalu and Masood are yet to be notified as vacant by the respective houses.