THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Former chief whip P.C. George has been disqualified by Speaker N. Sakthan from the Assembly with retrospective effect from June 3 for his acts against the Kerala Congress (M). There is no bar on him in contesting the next Assembly elections.
Mr George, who won the elections from Poonjar constituency representing the KC(M), had openly taken stands against the party, which attracted action under the anti-defection law.
Though Mr George had tendered his resignation the other day, the Speaker did not accept it on the grounds that the date for pronouncing judgment on the petition against him was already scheduled.
M. George had sought permission to vote against the UDF government in the Assembly on June 3. He was disqualified invoking Article 191(2) of the Constitution.
The monetary benefits availed of by Mr George as MLA since June 3 would not be recovered.
The reasons for the action were sending a letter to the Election Commission seeking cancellation of the registration of the Kerala Congress (M), filing a quo-warranto plea in the High Court against the party, reviving Kerala Congress (Secular), seeking permission to vote against the UDF and campaigning for Anti-Corruption Democratic Front candidate K. Das in the Aruvikara byelection. From hits acts, it was evident that he was leaving the party on his own, the Speaker observed.
Chief Whip Thomas Unniyadan of the KC(M) had filed the petition seeking disqualification of Mr George for working against the party. A detailed trial was held on the petition by the Speaker before taking the final decision.
With his disqualification, the UDF's seat share in the Assembly will come down to 73. Kerala Congress (B) leader R. Balakrishna Pillai was disqualified from the House in 1990 for parting ways with the Kerala Congress (J) in the Lok Sabha poll.
Reacting to the development, Mr George said the Speaker violated the assembly rules and procedures by not taking immediate action on his resignation.
Mr George said he is planning to approach the court regarding the violation of assembly rules.
"The Speaker held my resignation for 29 hours instead of accepting it immediately. This is a violation of the assembly rules and procedures," he said.
Mr George was appointed Leader of the Kerala Congress (Secular) by the party meeting held the other day, said party chairman T. S. John, who was along with George.
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