PANJIM: After the MGP floated the idea, the Congress is contemplating to move the court against its two former MLAs, who left the party to join the BJP, pleading for a ban from contesting elections for at least six years.
Two Congress MLAs – Dayanand Sopte (Mandrem) and Subhash Shirodkar (Shiroda) – had resigned their membership of the House and later from the party on October 16 and then joined the BJP.
The MGP, an ally of the BJP, had earlier this week said that it would likely to move the court for action against those defecting from the party and that they should be banned from contesting elections for six years.
Addressing media persons, Congress spokesperson Jitendra Deshprabhu said, “The legal team (of the Congress party) is working on it (filing a petition). We will plead for a ban of at least six years from contesting the election. The party defectors need to be punished. They take people for granted,” he said.
He welcomed the statement of the MGP President Pandurang (Deepak) Dhavilikar who was the first to call for a ban of six years on elected MLAs for changing parties for no proper or adequate reason.
Asked whether party is ready for by-elections in Mandrem and Shiroda, Deshprabhu said the party would contest both seats and once again retain its majority in the House.
Responding to a question on whether he is a contender for the ticket from Mandrem, the former Pernem MLA said he would oblige the party high command’s directions. “The workers are clear that only party loyalists should be given the ticket and I also feel so. The final decision is with Central and State leadership,” he stated.
