Patna, Aug. 24: Lalu Prasad and Jagdish Sharma — MPs from the rival outfits, the RJD and the JD(U) — are likely to be the immediate beneficiaries of the Union cabinet clearing the proposal to amend the Representation of the People’s Act on August 22.
The amendment proposal, set to be tabled in the current session of Parliament, has effectively blunted the Supreme Court’s July 10 judgment warranting upon a lawmaker to lose his elected representative’s position with immediate effect with a court convicting him/her for over two years. The verdict had also disqualified those lodged in jail from contesting the polls.
Since Lalu — despite embroiled in five cases of the fodder scam — continues to be a key “axis” in the state politics, the apex court’s July 10 verdict came as a blow to his cadres and supporters. But the Union cabinet’s proposal to execute the amendment with effect from July 10 — the day the apex court delivered what some sections described as a “landmark judgment” aimed at cleansing the political system — has come as a breather to Lalu’s supporters.
In fact, the JD(U) too is among almost all the political parties that has supported the cabinet move. The party, too, is a beneficiary in the sense that it has Sharma, the MP from Jehanabad, expecting a verdict with Lalu in the fodder scam case (RC-20A/96) by the CBI special court at Ranchi in the near future.
The political pundits predicted a virtual end of Lalu’s era as a lawmaker for he was set to lose his position as an MP and also the chance to contest the election once convicted against the backdrop of the apex court’s July 10 verdict.
“It is not an issue related to individuals. We are happy with the cabinet’s proposal primarily because it is in accordance with the spirit of the Constitution,” said a JD(U) MP on condition of anonymity.
RJD general secretary Vijay Krishna said: “The proposal envisages that a lawmaker will not lose his membership of a House if he moves against the lower court’s order in the higher courts within the stipulated time. Second, a person will not lose his right to contest the elections if his sentence is kept pending on his appeal in the higher courts.”
Senior Patna High Court lawyer Yogesh Chandra Verma too said: “The proposed amendment is in accordance with the spirit of the Constitution.”