There appeared to be such a hurry in initiating the proceedings that the Rouse Avenue Court judge’s name who pronounced the judgement was misspelled as ‘Digvijay Singh’ in gazette notification appearing with signature of state assembly principal secretary Arvind Sharma.
Bhopal
The high drama witnessed in Madhya Pradesh state assembly’s principal secretary’s office on Thursday night would have been possibly avoided had Speaker Narendra Singh Tomar decided not to go for immediate proceedings for disqualification of the Opposition Congress’ MLA Rajendra Bharti from the House and declaring his seat vacant after the latter was sentenced to three years imprisonment by a Delhi court in a fraud case.
There appeared to be such a hurry in initiating the proceedings that the Rouse Avenue Court judge’s name who pronounced the judgement was misspelled as ‘Digvijay Singh’ as is mentioned in the state government’s gazette notification appearing with signature of state assembly principal secretary Arvind Sharma.
In fact, the judge’s name as mentioned in the court’s judgement is ‘Dig Vinay Singh’.
State Congress president Jeetu Patwari and another ex-MLA PC Sharma were seen in principal secretary Arvind Sharma’s office Thursday night with Patwari arguing with the principal secretary why the latter rushed to his office having returned from Delhi and why such a hurry in initiating proceedings on disqualification of Bharti from the House.
The principal secretary was later seen in a video leaving his office premises and getting into his car while choosing not to answer Patwari’s queries.
Next day, addressing media persons Patwari levelled allegations against the ruling party BJP and the speaker.
He said, “MLA Rajendra Bharti was convicted by the court but the same court gave him 60 days time to file an appeal in the higher court. Grant of 60 days time to the MLA is a message in itself that he was not supposed to be disqualified. The speaker of the House is expected to protect the interest of MLAs, not Bharatiya Janata Party.”
He said, “In the same house the matter regarding membership of Narottam Mishra was pending during which he completed his two terms. The speaker has been delaying the matter regarding MLA Nirmla Sapre for a long time despite the fact he took oath on the Constitution to rise above party politics.”
Rajendra Bharti, MLA from Datia assembly constituency (now disqualified from the House) and a co-accused were held guilty in the fraud case by the Rouse Avenue court on April 1. The next day, the court pronounced the quantum of punishment.
Rajendra Bharti, a veteran politician, stole the limelight in 2023 assembly elections when he defeated the then Home minister Narottam Mishra who was one of the contenders within the BJP for the CM post after the elections.
As per The Representation of The People Act, 1951 any MLA or MP sentenced to imprisonment for two years or more in any criminal case stands disqualified immediately for the House he or she has been elected for.
Hence, in the light of the Rouse Avenue Court’s judgment Rajendra Bharti stood disqualified for the state assembly immediately after the judgment was pronounced. Any formal proceedings on part of the speaker on ground of the judgment would not have changed the scenario. Rather, it would not have given an opportunity to the Opposition Congress to accuse the speaker and his office that proceedings were initiated on Thursday night itself hours after the judgment was delivered, so that ruling party BJP could get an upper hand in Rajya Sabha elections.
Speaker Narendra Singh Tomar, on his part, explained why the proceedings were initiated the same day when the judgment was pronounced but still it remains unanswered why there was such an unusual hurry on his part in getting his secretariat to function during night hours and not to provide an opportunity to the MLA to present his side just for the sake of a natural justice i.e. providing a fair hearing to the affected MLA.
In Gwalior, as per media reports, Tomar said the state assembly’s proceedings were carried out under rules and procedures after the court’s judgement sentencing Bharti to 3 years imprisonment.
The speaker said Representation of People’s Act’s section 8(3) provides that a public representative stands disqualified on being sentenced to imprisonment for two years or more.
In addition, the speaker said, the secretariat received an application from one Mr Gautam who cited the judgment and requested him to follow the rules and procedures (regarding the disqualification).
The speaker said, “We consulted our legal counsel. We also sought the opinion of the Advocate General and then acting in accordance with the same and the provisions of law a decision was reached upon.”
He said a formal intimation regarding this decision was dispatched last night to the Election Commission as well as to all relevant government authorities. Tomar said, “We have precedents for such actions. A similar decision was taken in the case of Asha Devi, an MLA, who was disqualified on the ground of her conviction by a court. Similarly, in 2019, a similar decision was taken in the case of the then MLA Prahlad Lodhi.”
Responding to the Congress party’s allegations that action was taken in a haste despite the court having granted a 60-day window to Rajendra Bharti the speaker said, “Generally, I prefer not to engage in a war of allegations and counter-allegations. The Legislative Assembly and the Speaker of the Assembly are, by their very nature, distinct institutions and the both work within the constitutional framework rising above partisan sentiments.”
He said, “I have served as the Speaker for a considerable period, and you are free to speak with members from all political factions. My constant endeavour is to ensure that only those actions are undertaken which are strictly in accordance with the law and established procedure.”
न्यायालय के निर्णय का सभी को सम्मान करना चाहिए
• न्यायालय ने साक्ष्यों के आधार पर निर्णय लिया है, जिसका सभी दलों—भाजपा हो या कांग्रेस—को सम्मान करना चाहिए।
• भारतीय जनता पार्टी न्यायालय के निर्णय का पूर्ण समर्थन करती है और उसके निर्देशों का अक्षरशः पालन करेगी।
• न्यायालय के… pic.twitter.com/SXO8eqBsce— Ashish Usha Agarwal आशीष ऊषा अग्रवाल (@Ashish_HG) April 3, 2026
Leader Opposition in the House Umang Singhar alleged this was all being done by the BJP to win Rajya Sabha election in May anyhow.
“The state assembly has a double standard…It didn’t take action on Narottam Mishra whose name figured in paid news matter which has been pending in the Supreme Court for years”, he said.
आधी रात में भाजपा के काले कारनामे!
जब मामला न्यायालय में है और अपील के लिए समय दिया गया है, तो फिर इतनी जल्दबाजी क्यों? दतिया से कांग्रेस विधायक राजेंद्र भारती जी के मामले में आधी रात को विधानसभा सचिवालय खोलकर उनकी विधायकी समाप्त कर दी गई।
यह साफ है कि राज्यसभा चुनाव से पहले…
— Umang Singhar (@UmangSinghar) April 3, 2026
However, minister for cooperative Vishwas Sarang said it had nothing to do with Rajya Sabha elections.
He said the MLA had committed the fraud during the Congress regime and he was convicted by the court now. Hence, he stood disqualified from the House in accordance with Representation of People’s Act provisions.
State Congress spokesperson JP Dhanopia said, “Unusual haste on the part of the speaker is inexplicable. Speaker is like a guardian who is expected to protect the interest of all the MLAs, not the MLAs of the ruling party only.”
Former principal secretary, MP state assembly, Bhagwandev Israni said, “There was no doubt that the MLA stood disqualified from the House in the light of the judgement but it’s beyond comprehension why there was such a hurry in initiating the proceedings.”
