Rebel Kerala Congress leader PC George disqualified as MLA

P.C. George was disqualified as a Kerala assembly member by Speaker N. Sakthan on Friday. Speaker N Sakthan had refused to accept the resignation.

The decision to disqualify P C George as a legislator came on a petition filed by the Kerala Congress(M) invoking the anti-defection law.

During the hearing on the petition, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy had also appeared before the Speaker to depose against George.

He became a legislator for the first time in 1980.

The action to remove him was taken after his alleged involvements with anti-party activities.

Mr. George has contested his disqualification saying the Speaker flouted rules and is all set to challenge it in court.

The strength of 140-member Assembly would come down to 139 with George quitting the MLA post and that of the KC-M to eight. With Jose K Mani also following suit, it is clear that the Kerala Congress (M) party will use the “conspiracy theory” against Mani in the case as a pressure tactic on the Congress and the UDF.

George’s resignation would not have any immediate impact on the stability of the Congress-led UDF government.

But Mani was not in favour of keeping George in the Front as a separate partner.