The Speaker of Assam Assembly has disqualified nine rebel Congress MLAs on charges of defection, after they join the BJP last month.
The rebels, vacated of their seats after their former party asked the Speaker for their disqualification from the House, have vowed to move the court against the Speaker’s decision.
Assembly sources said the Speaker served notices to each of the nine MLAs — Jayanta Mallah Baruah, Pijush Hazarika , Pallab Lochan Das , Pradan Barua , Abu Taher Bepari, Kripanath Mallah, Rajen Borthakur, Binanda Kumar Saikia and Bolin Chetia- on December 20 and heard them before deciding to disqualify. Considered close aids of Congress leader-turned-rebel Himanta Biswa Sarma, the MLAs joined the BJP on November 7.
Sarma himself switched allegiance to the saffron party. The leaders have earlier been removed from the primary membership of Congress.
Published 21 December 2015, 19:59 IST