BJP's O P Sharma to lose his membership of the Delhi Assembly

NEW DELHI: Those who know Om Prakash Sharma, BJP MLA from Vishwas Nagar in Delhi, were not taken by surprise either by his remarks against AAP legislator Alka Lamba last year or his attack on a CPI leader last week in Patiala House court. A staunch supporter of his party and Arun Jaitley, Sharma is boisterous and loud about his beliefs and using colourful language against his opponents comes naturally to him.

Sharma is on the brink of losing his membership of the Delhi Assembly due to his “sexist” remarks against Lamba, AAP MLA from Chandni Chowk. Since he had made these comments in the House, he was suspended by the Speaker who also sent the matter to the Ethics Committee.

The panel has now decided to recommend his expulsion, according to sources.

Ironically, the man who took law into his own hands in Patiala court despite being a lawmaker, termed this “an attack on democracy”.

62-year-old Sharma has been in the news for the wrong reasons since he became a member of the Delhi Assembly in 2015. Photos and visuals of Sharma beating up a CPI leader last week have been splashed all over the media. Not being apologetic about his action, he even went to the extent of saying, “Mein goli bhi maar deta agar bandook hoti. Koi hamari Ma ko gaali dega to kya usey maaroge nahin.”

His friends maintain that hehad only hit back when he was attacked in the court premises though there are not many who buy this argument.

Sharma has been virtually like a bull in a china shop in the Delhi Assembly. He has almost overshadowed Leader of the BJP Vijendra Gupta in taking on the AAP which has an overwhelming presence in the House. Aware that he cannot counter the ruling party through debates, he has often resorted to other means. In the Assembly, he has torn Bills, damaged a mike—for which `18,560 was deducted from his salary, and has been thrown out by marshals.

An old-world politician with humble beginnings, Sharma is always available to his friends. This is said to be the main reason for his surviving the AAP wave in Delhi in 2015 and was the only BJP MLA to have retained his seat.

He has an unflinching loyalty to Jaitley and has stood by him through thick and thin. Though he has often embarrassed Jaitley through his deeds, the senior leader has forgiven Sharma due to his unwavering support.