Cross voting: BJP serves ‘disqualification notice’ to 7 MLAs

Srinagar: State unit of Bhartiya Janata Party has issued “disqualification notices” to seven legislators and asked them to respond within a week in connection with cross-voted in favour of ruling National Conference candidate during the legislative council polls last month. “The seven legislators have been asked to respond to notice within seven days. Their response, satisfactory or otherwise, will decide the future action against them,” Jughal Kishore Sharma, the party leader who issued the notice.    The seven legislators have been asked to explain why they should not be disqualified as members of the legislative assembly as they had violated the party whip and voted for rival parties in the April 13 polls last. The party high command have already suspended the seven MLAs and issued them show cause notices over their act of cross-voting in favour of National conference on April 13.On May 19 last, the seven suspended MLAs defied summons of the central leadership and on Monday last refused to appear before the party’s disciplinary committee in New Delhi. The legislators questioned the grounds on which they were suspended. This was the second time the BJP legislators have defied the order of the party High Command.Last month, the legislators reportedly went to Speaker Mohammad Akhbar Lone and withdrew their resignation letters, which they had submitted to party chief, Nitin Gadkari after the cross-voting.Seven out of 11 BJP legislators voted for candidates of the ruling Congress-NC alliance, which won five out of the six seats for which elections were held. This became clear when BJP candidate Ranjit Singh polled only four votes.