SP Maurya quits assembly ahead of speaker’s hearing

Swami Prasad Maurya, who joined the BJP earlier this month after quitting the BSP, resigned from the membership of the state assembly on Friday.

Maurya had joined BJP on August 8. The BSP has moved a petition with speaker Mata Prasad Pandey for Maurya’s disqualification under the antidefection law.

The speaker had summoned Maurya to submit a reply and fixed August 31 for the hearing.

“I have resigned on moral grounds and to protect democratic values. I contested the assembly election on the BSP ticket. After joining the BJP, I decided to resign from the membership of the legislative assembly,” Maurya said at a press conference.

“I had decided to resign immediately after joining the BJP, but could not submit the resignation letter to the speaker as I was busy attending meetings in various districts and the speaker’s office was closed due to holidays. I received summons from the speaker’s office and talked to him on Thursday. I intimated him that I would send a resignation letter on Friday,” he said.

When asked if he had resigned to escape action under anti- defection law, Maurya replied, “I have resigned on moral ground. The MLAs who have defected to other parties recently have not resigned from the membership of assembly yet.”

Maurya said a massive rally would be organised on Ramabai Ambedkar ground in Lucknow on September 22 under the banner of the Loktantrik Bahujan Manch. Bharatiya Janata Party national president Amit Shah would attend the rally. “I have also invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” he said.

THE BSP HAS MOVED A PETITION WITH THE SPEAKER FOR MAURYA’S DISQUALIFICATION UNDER ANTI- DEFECTION LAW