Team Herald
PANJIM: Two rebel MLA Digambar Kamat and Michael Lobo have strongly objected to the disqualification petition filed against them by Congress President Amit Patkar, claiming that non-member of Legislative Assembly cannot file it.
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In July last year, Patkar filed a disqualification petition against the then Leader of the Opposition Michael Lobo and Margao MLA Digambar Kamat before the Speaker, stating that the duo had voluntarily given up the membership of the Congress party and that they had attracted disqualification as MLAs.
During the last hearing, both the MLAs were asked to file their replies. Both the MLAs have stated that the petitioner had no locus standi to file disqualification plea against them.
However, Patkar said that even non-member can file disqualification petition against those who defected from the original party and attracted disqualification under the Anti-Defection Act.
He said that the Odisha High Court had passed a verdict that non-member can file disqualification petition and that the petitioner need not necessarily be a sitting MLA.
Later in September, Kamat and Lobo along with six other Congress MLAs crossed over to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The Speaker has now posted the matter for hearing on March 6.
