Mizoram Assembly Speaker Lalrinliana Sailo on Friday disqualified Opposition leader Lalduhoma as a member of the State Legislative Assembly.
Lalduhoma, who contested the last Mizoram Assembly polls as an independent candidate, has been qualified by the Assembly Speaker under the anti-defection law.
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The Assembly Speaker took the action on Lalduhoma, who won the Serchhip Assembly seat, for “defecting” to the newly-floated Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM).
A total of 12 ruling Mizo National Front (MNF) legislators, in September, submitted petitions to the Speaker demanding disqualification of Lalduhoma for allegedly “violating” the Constitution of the country.
Also read: Mizoram Assembly Speaker Lalrinliana Sailo to announce decision on disqualification on Friday
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The ruling MLAs in their petition alleged that Lalduhoma, who won as an independent candidate in the 2018 Mizoram Assembly elections, breached para 2 (2) of the 10th schedule of the Indian constitution by defecting to the Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) party.
They also alleged Lalduhoma indulged in ZPM party activities by attending the party office and inducting new members into the party at functions held in Aizawl and other places, which, acording to the petitioners, proved that he defected to the ZPM.
The State Assembly served a show-cause notice to 71-year-old Lalduhoma on September 24 seeking an explanation from him as to why he should not be disqualified.
In his reply on October 8, Lalduhoma claimed that he did not defect to any other party as he continuously maintained his allegiance to the ZPM since its formation in 2017.
Lalduhoma said the ZPM was formed by several minor parties, including Zoram Nationalist Party (ZNP), a registered state party which he previously headed.
According to Lalduhoma along with 37 other candidates, he was declared an official candidate of ZPM in the 2018 Assembly polls.