Uttar Pradesh Governor Ram Naik
In a first, two lawmakers of Uttar Pradesh were disqualified from the Uttar Pradesh Assembly by the Governor today, following a recommendation by the state's Lokayukta which found them guilty of holding office of profit.
Bajrang Bahadur Singh of the BJP and Uma Shankar Singh of the BSP were working as government contractors even after being elected to the asembly.
Lokayukta N K Mehrotra had recommended their disqualification after a probe, saying their act was in violation of the Representation of the People Act. People's representatives are not allowed to hold positions through which they stand to make financial gains.
In December, Governor Ram Naik sought a report from the Election Commission on the Lokayukta's recommendation.
Both legislators have threatened to move court against what they called a "flawed" decision, reported news agency Press Trust of India.
At a media conference today, Mr Uma Shankar Singh presented documents to claim he had not been awarded any government contract after his election and threatened to challenge the decision in court.
"I have not got the orders of my disqualification yet but on getting it I will be moving the court after consulting my counsel," PTI reported Mr Singh as saying.
Bajrang Bahadur Singh said the decision to disqualify him has come because of a "technical error" and said he would move court for justice, reported PTI.