Congress on Friday held out a lame threat of invoking the anti-defection law against its legislators in Gujarat who had quit the party to join the BJP putting the re-election of senior leader Ahmed Patel to the Rajya Sabha in jeopardy.
“If the MLAs think they cannot come under the anti- defection law, they are mistaken. If found guilty under the law, they face future disqualification of six years,” Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi told reporters here
Singhvi’s remarks come at a time when the Congress has suffered big jolts a six Gujarat MLAs have quit the party over the past two days to join the BJP. Congress fears that more MLAs could be on their way out following the resignation of its tallest leader in Gujarat – Shankarsinh Vaghela.
He accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP President Amit Shah of encouraging the Congress MLAs to resign by offering allurement.
“Crores of rupees have been spent in horse-trading in Gujarat by the BJP. You have seen this naked drama. The policy of the BJP in Gujarat is – come to power by breaking all laws,” he said.
Singhvi alleged that Congress MLA Punabhai Gavit has offered Rs 10 crore by the BJP.
According to the anti-defection law, a petition in relation to a member can be made to the Speaker by any other member stating reasonable grounds seeking disqualification under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution.
The member also has to provide documentary evidence for the grounds of disqualification.
Singhvi said even voluntary resignations of the MLAs from the party came under the ambit of the anti-defection law. However, he did not specify how the Congress planned to convince the presiding officer of allegations of corruption it had levelled against the MLAs who had quit over the last two days.