Legislator disqualification of West Bengal Industries Minister sought after his appointment as HPL chairman

20-Apr-12

The opposition party-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has written to the chief election commissioner, requesting him to disqualify West Bengal Industries Minister Partha Chatterjee's legislatorship after he was appointed as Haldia Petrochemicals Limited (HPL) chairman by the state government, as per IANS. BJP has written to Chief Election Commissioner on the issue of 'Office of Profit'. The state government, through amendment, granted exemptions to ministers and MLAs to become chairpersons and directors of companies. The move is a pre-emptive measure against legal challenges to its industry minister Partha Chatterjee's new role as chairman in an 'office of profit' company such as Haldia Petrochemicals." Sikdar, a former union minister during the NDA regime, questioned whether a state assembly has the right to amend such exemptions under Article 102 (1) (A) of the Indian Constitution - which bars an MP or an MLA from holding any 'office of profit' under the government of India or in any state other than an office declared by Parliament by law as not disqualifying its holder.