BJP challenges BSP state unit’s merger with Cong
JAIPUR: The Rajasthan BJP has challenged the merger of the BSP unit in the state with the Congress party, claiming that it is illegal.
BJP MLA from Ramganj Mandi Madan Dilawar said he has submitted an application to assembly speaker Dr CP Joshi challenging the merger of the BSP with the Congress.
The speaker said he would consult legal experts in the matter. Though he has not given a time frame by when he will decide on the issue.
“As per the constitution, a merger takes place between two parties and not a unit of a national party. The six BSP MLAS could not decide on their own to merge with the Congress,” Dilawar said.
Dilawar added that if a merger was to take place between the BSP and Congress, the decision would be taken by BSP supremo Mayawati and the Congress high command.
Dilawar said the party has consulted its legal expert Satya Pal Jain and then filed the application challenging the merger. HE raised the issue in the assembly.
As per the anti-drfection law and Supreme Court guidelines, the speaker has the power to decide on the issue of merger of parties.
Congress spokesperson Archana Sharma said there is nothing illegal about the merger. “This move only showed the BJP’S desperation,” she said.
However, deputy leader of opposition Rajendra Rathore said if the speaker’s ruling is unfair the BJP will approach the high court in the matter.
The BJP move is seen as an attempt to build pressure on the Congress government by trying to get the merger nullified.
MADAN DILAWAR, BJP MLA
After the political developments in Madhya Pradesh and Jyotiraditya Scindia’s entry into the BJP, the party is adopting political ploys to keep the Congress government on tenterhooks.
The BSP MLAS -- Joginder Awana from Nadbai, Ranveer Singh Guda from Udaipurwati, Sandeep Yadav from Alwar, Wajib Ali from Bharatpur, Deepchand Kheriya from Kishangarhbas and Lakhan Singh from Karauli -- had merged the BSP unit with the Congress last year in September. The BSP was already providing outside support to the Congress government in the state.
The state incharge of the BSP,
Dharamvir Ashok, later said he was unaware of the development else he would have stopped it.
An angry BSP supremo Mayawati had lashed out at the Congress, calling it untrustworthy and a cheat. She said Congress always harms parties that support it.
At the time, the merger was seen as a master stroke by chief minister Ashok Gehlot who was trying to strengthen his government after winning a slender majority in the 2018 assembly elections. The Congress won 101 seats of 200 assembly seats in the elections while the BJP won 73. BSP got six seats and the rest went to smaller parties and independents. The six BSP MLAS had carried out the merger in dramatic fashion after a late night meeting with Gehlot followed by another meeting with assembly speaker CP Joshi to whom they handed over a letter of intent to join the Congress.
Joshi approved the letter and the merger was completed. State Congress president Sachin Pilotwas kept in the dark about the entire episode.
The MLAS formally joined the Congress in presence of party president Sonia Gandhi in January in Delhi.
As per the constitution, a merger takes place between two parties and not a unit of a national party. The six
BSP MLAS could not decide on their own to merge with the Congress.