Sharad Yadav, Ali Anwar disqualified as Rajya Sabha members

Rebel JDU MPs Sharad Yadav and Ali Anwar were disqualified from the Rajya Sabha on Monday night, according to a communication from the chairman of the House M Venkaiah Naidu, PTI reports from New Delhi.

Naidu in his communication said they cease to be Rajya Sabha members with immediate effect. The Rajya Sabha chairman agreed to the JDU's contention that the two senior leaders had "voluntarily given up" their membership by defying their party's directives and attending events of opposition parties.

The JDU had sought their disqualification on the grounds that they had attended a rally of opposition parties in Patna in violation of its direction.