Speaker disqualifies P. C. George

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Assembly Speaker N. Sakhthan disqualified former Government Chief Whip P. C. George for defection with effect from June 3.

The Speaker did not accept his resignation tendered on Thursday. The disqualification will be for the remaining term of 13th Kerala Assembly. It will not be in the way of his contesting future elections.

The Speaker, who considered a petition moved by Government Chief Whip Thomas Unniyadan (Kerala Congress-M), observed that there was ample proof that Mr. George had quit the Kerala Congress (M). Mr. George had written to the Speaker on June 3 that he was no more with the Kerala Congress (M) and the UDF and should be allowed to vote separately.

Mr. George had also approached the Election Commission of India and Kerala High Court seeking de-registration of Kerala Congress (M) and had campaigned against the ruling Front in the by-election from Aruvikkara. He supported the independent candidate K. Das and his photograph had been printed in campaign posters along with the candidate.

The Speaker clarified that Mr. George would not have to refund salaries and other benefits drawn from June 3. The disqualification under the Anti-defection law will come into effect the date on which a member voluntarily quits his party.

Mr. George is the second member of the Assembly to be disqualified for defection. The first was R. Balakrishnan Pillai who formed his own Kerala Congress faction when Varkala Radhakrishnan was the Speaker.

Mr. George maintained that disqualification with retrospective effect was illegal and he was examining his legal option. The petitioner had not sought disqualification with retrospective effect.