In a major political development in Madhya Pradesh, Congress MLA Rajendra Bharti has been disqualified after being sentenced to three years in prison by a Delhi court in a cheating case involving the forging of bank records to obtain illegal interest payments between 1998 and 2011.
Datia seat vacant
Following the conviction, the Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly Secretariat declared his Datia seat vacant and issued an Extraordinary Gazette notification.
According to officials, the court on April 2, not only awarded Bharti a three-year jail term but also imposed a fine of Rs 1 lakh. His disqualification comes under provisions of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, read with Article 191(1)(e) of the Constitution, which mandates that any legislator sentenced to two years or more in prison is automatically disqualified.
The Assembly Secretariat has also informed the Election Commission about the vacancy, setting the stage for a by-election in the Datia constituency.
Congress to challenge conviction
Meanwhile, the Congress has moved swiftly on the legal front to challenge Bharti's conviction. According to sources, senior Congress leaders and advocates, Kapil Sibal and Vivek Tankha, are likely to challenge the verdict in the High Court. The primary objective of the defense team will be to secure a stay on the conviction. If the High Court grants a stay on the sentence, the possibility of Bharti's membership being reinstated will remain open.
Political observers say the development is a setback for the Congress, as Bharti had gained prominence after defeating senior BJP leader Narottam Mishra. His disqualification is likely to reshape political equations in the region ahead of a potential bypoll.
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