Five SP MLAs missing from party convention

Bhopal, Mar 26: Taking the absence of five of party legislators from Samajwadi Party (SP) convention held at Jabalpur, Samajwadi Party National General Secretary Amar Singh who has been appointed party observer for Rajya Sabha elections is coming to Bhopal on Thursday. He would chalk out a strategy in favour of Congress-supported independent candidate Vivek Tankha. Only three party legislators Narayan Tripathi, Sunilam and Arjun Palia were spotted in the party convention at Jabalpur.

One MLA Kishore Samrite, who has already declined to vote for Tankha has been suspended. Thus, his absence was not considered serious from party point of view, but absence of remaining four MLAs is seen seriously. Samajwadi Party has already issued a whip to the legislators for voting to Tankha. Sources claimed that issuing whip in favour of a particular candidate is illegal against Supreme Court directives. In this situation, Amar Singh’s visit in Bhopal is being considered important, as Rajya Sabha elections are scheduled on Friday.

Sources claimed that Singh will reach Bhopal on Thursday and hold meetings with all the party MLAs. However, suspended MLA Samrite claimed that he has no information about Amar Singh’s visit to Bhopal. Meanwhile, Samrite filed a written complaint with Jehangirabad police station in Bhopal alleging that he was unlawfully forced to sign proposal in favour Vivek Tankha when he filed nomination for Rajya Sabha. He also mentioned in the complaint that Samajwadi Party’s issuing a whip was violation of Supreme Court forcing MLAs to vote for a particular candidate.