Lalu Prasad Yadav stands disqualified from membership of Lok Sabha: BJP

CHANDIGARH: The BJP today said RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav stands disqualified from the Lok Sabha in the wake of his conviction by a CBI court in the multi-crore fodder scam case.

"In view of the conviction of Lalu Prasad Yadav under the Prevention of Corruption Act (PCA), he stands disqualified from the present membership of the Lok Sabha as well as for at least coming six years," national chairman of BJP's Committee on Legal Affairs and Election Commission Issues and former MP Satya Pal Jain said.

Besides, Lalu is barred to contest any election to the state legislature, Parliament or to the highest offices of President and Vice-President for the next six years, he said.

Expressing "surprise and shock" over the observation of Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar that the decision about Lalu's membership will be taken only after studying the court's order, Jain said legally speaking, Lalu incurred the disqualification the moment his conviction order was signed by the court.

As per Section 8 of the Representation of People's Act 1951, a person who is convicted under any provision of the PCA and is sentenced to jail for even a single day, stands disqualified to contest any election for a period of six years from the date of his release from the jail, he said.

Jain said, not only this, even if a person convicted under the Act is not sentenced to jail, but only a fine is imposed upon him, even then he is disqualified from contesting any election from the date when he pays the fine for a further period of six years.