Sharad Yadav, Anwar Ali disqualified from Rajya Sabha

Rebel JD(U) Members of Parliament (MPs) Sharad Yadav and Ali Anwar were disqualified from the Rajya Sabha on Monday night after the Rajya Sabha chairman Venkaiah Naidu agreed to the Janata Dal (United)'s contention that the two senior leaders had "voluntarily given up" their membership by defying their party's directives and attending events of opposition parties.

Venkaiah Naidu in his communication said the two leaders ceased to be Rajya Sabha members with immediate effect.

The Nitish Kumar-led JD(U) had asked for Sharad Yadav and Ali Anwar to be disqualified for attending a rally of opposition parties led by the JD(U) in Patna in violation of its direction.

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Sharad Yadav had crossed over into the camp of Rashtriya Janata Dal chief and former Bihar chief minister Lalu Prasad Yadav after JD(U) president and Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar dumped the Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance) of the Congress and the RJD the in Bihar and allied with the BJP.

Sharad Yadav was elected to the Rajya Sabha last year and his term was scheduled to end in 2022. Anwar Ali's term was to end early next year.

The former JD(U) president, who is at present in Gujarat to campaign against the BJP, is expected to respond to his disqualification today.

(With inputs from PTI)