News Source - The Times of India
The Congress legislature party (CLP) in Bihar is faced with a likely split with one of its four MLAs confirming he had received an invitation from the JD (U) leadership to join the party in return of a cabinet berth. State JD (U) president Vashishth Narain Singh, however, said he did not contact any Congress legislator. Such an exercise might be taking place at "internal level". But he did not explain the level.
Mohammad Tausif Alam, Congress MLA from Bahadurganj who returned from New Delhi, told TOI, "I have urged the party leadership to help Nitish Kumar to strengthen secularism. It will help minorities in the state. I have conveyed my feelings to the central leadership." Alam said the Nitish Kumar government needed support of the Congress in the interest of the minorities. He admitted having received an "invitation" from the JD (U). He, however, did not explain the nature of offer and the persons who made the offer.
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| Tausif Alam with Nitish Kumar |
Two other Congress MLAs, Mohammad Javed from Kishanganj and Mohammad Afaq from Kasba in Purnia district, said they would not betray Sonia Gandhi for a cabinet berth in Bihar. Sadanand Singh, a former speaker of Bihar assembly, is the fourth Congress MLA and is CLP leader.
Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee president Ashok Chaudhury is keeping a tab on the activities of the Congress MLAs. Sources close to him confirmed there were reports of one MLA deserting the party to join the JD (U).
Premchandra Mishra, media incharge of BPCC, said the party had taken note of the statement of Bahadurganj MLA about seeking Congress support to JD (U) government in Bihar. He recalled the chief minister had specially gone to Bahadurganj to attend the marriage of the MLA concerned few weeks back.
According to constitutional experts, Anti-Defection Act provisions can be applied against defecting MLAs. But there is no time bar on the Speaker to take decisions on disqualifications. They recalled two similar incidents in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh assemblies. About 25 MLAs in MP had joined the Congress (T) during the regime of Digvijay Singh. They were ardent followers of Arjun Singh. Petitions to disqualify them were filed, but the Speaker's judgment could not come till the House was dissolved.
In Chhattisgarh, 12 BJP MLAs had left the BJP and joined the Congress. Proceedings of their disqualification could not be completed by the then Speaker Rajendra Prasad Shukla till the term of the Chhattisgarh assembly expired in December 2003.
Abdul Bari Sidiqqui, leader of opposition in Bihar assembly and senior RJD leader, on Saturday claimed none of the 22 party MLAs would join the JD (U). Sidiqqui said the JD (U) leaders were trying to touch the RJD territory but the party MLAs turned down the offer of ministership. RJD president Lalu Prasad has reached Patna and is personally handling the situation, he said.
