Oppn threatens legal action over delay in disqualifying BJP MLA

Jaipur: Leader of Opposition (LOP) Tikaram Jully, Tuesday, expressed dissatisfaction over the delay in disqualifying BJP MLA Kanwarlal Meena, despite the Rajasthan High Court upholding his conviction and sentence of three years in prison.

Jully strongly criticised the Assembly Secretariat's inaction even after two full working days passed since a certified copy of the high court's judgment was submitted to it by the Congress. Further, the LOP said, Meena has failed to secure a stay on his conviction from the Supreme Court. The case stems from an incident where Meena, who represents the Anta constituency in Baran district, was found guilty of intimidating a senior govt official at gunpoint. On May 1, the high court upheld his conviction by a trial court, which sentenced him to three years in jail.

Citing the Supreme Court's landmark Lily Thomas verdict, Jully emphasised that any MP or MLA sentenced to two or more years in prison stands automatically disqualified from the date of conviction. He dismissed BJP's claims about Meena obtaining a stay order, clarifying that the Supreme Court had only granted him exemption from surrender until the case's first hearing.

To strengthen his argument, Jully referenced several high-profile cases where swift disqualification followed conviction, including Rahul Gandhi's removal from the Lok Sabha, Azam Khan's disqualification from the UP Assembly, disqualification of RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav in the fodder scam and BJP's Suresh Halvankar also, who lost their seats upon conviction. The Opposition has now threatened legal action if Meena's membership is not cancelled by Wednesday, expressing concern that the delay undermines constitutional norms and judicial authority.