Jaya Bachchan set to lose Rajya Sabha seat

THE ELECTION Commission has recommended the disqualification of Samajwadi Party Rajya Sabha MP and film actress Jaya Bachchan. The recommendation has been forwarded to President APJ Abdul Kalam, under provisions of Article 103 of the Constitution where President decides whether a sitting member has incurred disqualification, in consultation with EC.

THE ELECTION Commission has recommended the disqualification of Samajwadi Party Rajya Sabha MP and film actress Jaya Bachchan. The recommendation has been forwarded to President APJ Abdul Kalam, under provisions of Article 103 of the Constitution where President decides whether a sitting member has incurred disqualification, in consultation with EC.

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The President had sought the commission’s opinion on a petition filed by one Madan Mohan Shukla, of Kanpur, last year seeking Jaya’s disqualification from the RS on the grounds that she was holding an office of profit as Chairperson of the UP Film Development Board. In wake of the petition, the commission had issued notices to Jaya and Shukla in October last year.

Interestingly, the President is also believed to have forwarded a complaint to the EC seeking the disqualification of Samajwadi Party General Secretary and Rajya Sabha MP Amar Singh on the grounds that he too was holding an office of profit.

Singh is the chairperson of the UP Development Council.

Sources said after hearing both Shukla and Jaya and following due process, the commission last week recommended her disqualification to President Kalam. The EC, sources said, had also taken opinion from legal experts before formulating its views on the vexed issue. EC officials said under Article 103 the President was bound by the recommendation of the commission. Once the President clears the file it will be sent to the Law Ministry which will issue a formal notification for the disqualification. The Rajya Sabha Chairman will also be formally communicated the decision by the Rashtrapati Bhawan. This is the second time a Rajya Sabha MP will be disqualified for holding an office of profit. In 1985 an AIADMK MP, R Mohan Rangam, was disqualified on similar grounds.