No procedure followed for ‘claimed’ merger: JVM

Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (JVM) argued before the Speaker tribunal, listening the MLAs defection case for over three years from now, that none of the procedure laid down into the party constitution were followed before the said merger of the party into the BJP.

Party lawyer RN Sahay arguing the matter before the tribunal presided by Speaker Dinesh Oraon on Friday also assured that final argument from his side would be presented on the next date; i.e. September 7.

“I submitted before the court citing constitution of the JVM that neither the meeting of the party’s central working committee was called on the claimed date, nor any resolution of merging the party into the BJP was passed with two-third majority, nor it was on the agenda. Where the issue of merger came from? The case is not at all about the merger but is in fact of defection which has taken place against the law of the land,” said Sahay after the hearing.

The lawyer also presented before the tribunal the ECI guidelines about merger of political parties to boost his argument. “This is well established that merger of any kind involving two or more parties has to be as per the provisions laid down in the rules with the Election Commission of India in clear terms. No procedure was followed in this case,” added the lawyer. Sahay said that the Speaker wanted to know from him when he would be concluding his arguments to which he replied that he need another about one hour more. “I need one more seating to conclude. The Speaker has set next date as September 7 and I would rest my case that day,” said he.

The party is expected to place several cases coming before the Supreme Court, in various High Courts, relating to the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha of similar nature and cite their judgments to drive home its point. Defense side would place its arguments following that and it is likely that it would get two or three dates to present its case.