Merger of JDU MLAs against Vajpayee's dream: O Joy
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, September 03 2022: Veteran politician Okram Joy Singh has said that merger of five JDU MLAs to BJP was against the ideal of late Prime Minister and BJP legend Atal Behari Vajpayee, who wanted to have a stable political scenario in India.

Sharing his views on the changing political scenario in the state in the wake of merger of five JDU MLAs to BJP, Joy recalled that late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi introduced Anti-Defection Law but the existing Tenth Schedule of Constitution was amended by AB Vajpayee to bring political stability in the country.

Vajpayee removed the word 'split' and replaced it by 'merger' to avoid unnecessary chaos in democracy and to have stable political scenario in the country.

Under the Tenth Schedule, a political party can merge with another party provided two/ third of the MLAs joins the new party.

What the Tenth Schedule of Constitution says is that four MLAs of JDU having a total of six MLAs could merge with a political party and the remaining two MLAs cannot be disqualified.

However, the present merger is unacceptable in the eyes of law as the merger was done with MLAs alone and without the party, he said.

Though BJP worships Vajpayee, the party works against the BJP legend's dream of bringing a stable political scenario in the country, O Joy said, adding that JDU supported the BJP-led government and there was no report of withdrawal of support.

Even if JDU withdrew support, there will no impact on the BJP-led government, he said, and questioned reason behind the merger.

He further said that merger of five JDU MLAs to BJP could be a case for disqualification under Anti Defection Law and there is merit for taking up disqualification case against the five JDU MLAs.

Comment