Bahujan Samaj Party MlA, Uma Shankar Singh and Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) MlA, Bajrang Bhadhur Singh, facing threat of losing their membership from the State Assembly, continue to enjoy the power as the Election Commission despite of repeated reminded by the Governor, is not taking any decision on the issue. The file was gathering dust at Election Commission of India (ECI) office now for more than six months. Interestingly, sources maintained that a powerful group in the BJP is taking keen interest to get the matter delayed while the state government is also not serious on the issue.
Reports said that since the than Governor Bl Joshi had forwarded the file to ECI to decide on the fate of both the above MlAs – Uma Shankar Jaiswal and Bajrang Bhadhur Singh, in February last, four reminders have been dispatched to the Election Commission to decide and sent their opinion after which necessary proceedings would be made against the two MlAs. The move was made by the governor on recommendation of finding of the lokayukt (Retd Justice) NK Mehrotra, that duo were indulged in illegal activities by using their positions and procuring lucrative governments contracts. Since then, Joshi sent three reminders in different intervals seeking a report from the ECI but the Commission remained silent on the issue. Recently, new governor, Ram Naik, too dispatched a reminder to ECI on July 31 last asking the ECI to decide and forward their recommendations for necessary action against the two MlAs. However, so far the matter was pending with the ECI.
If ECI would go ahead recommending disqualification, then this will be for the first time that any MlA would lose their membership on account of misusing their position. It may be mentioned here that earlier in February last, lokayukt recommended to end the membership of two MlAs from the House after charges of illegal practices against them have been found to be true. NK Mehrotra, in his findings sent to state government, had recommended to end the membership of Bahujan Samaj Party MlA, Uma Shankar Singh and Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) MlA, Bajrang Bhadhur Singh from the State Assembly immediately. Mehrotra than claimed that charges were made against the above two leaders that they misused their position as MlA and took lucrative contracts of Public Works Department. Mehrotra, who has been handed over the above probe in December last year claimed that the enquiry by him found the charges true so they not deserved to remain as MlA any more.
Sources said that now the ECI would take legal opinion before forwarding their recommendation to the Governor. Both the MlAs could not be contacted for their reaction on the issue but sources said that they had planned to proceed to court if any adverse move has been made by the ECI.