Sibu Soren unseated

PATNA, MAY 10. The Patna High Court today set aside the election of the JMM(S) president, Mr. Sibu Soren, to the Rajya Sabha and declared the Samata Party leader and industrialist, Mr. D.N. Sahay, elected in his place.

The single bench of Mr. Justice R. N. Sahay upheld the petition of Mr. Sahay which said Mr. Soren had held an office of profit when he had filed his nomination papers being the chairman of the ad hoc Jharkhand Area Autonomous Council (JAAC), which has since been superseded.

While seven others and had also been elected to the Rajya Sabha in 1998, the contest for the eighth seat was between Mr. Soren and Mr. Sahay who was declared elected to the Rajya Sabha with the termination of the former's membership. The court has allowed Mr. Soren a period of three weeks to appeal against the order before the appellate Supreme Court.

The court's ruling is a setback for the JMM president, particularly because he has been hoping for a Cabinet berth in the NDA Government for the support he had extended to the attempt to install an NDA Government in the State after the Assembly elections.

- PTI

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Front Page
Previous : Provisional bail for Laloo