Punjab: Khaira's resignation as MLA accepted, Bholath seat falls vacant

The Punjab Assembly speaker accepted the resignation of Bholath MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira on Tuesday and the Vidhan Sabha seat has now fallen vacant.

Khaira had joined the Aam Aadmi Party in December 2015 after resigning from Congress and was elected from the Bholath assembly seat in Kapurthala in 2017.

After he was unceremoniously removed as the Leader of Opposition of the Punjab Assembly in 2018, he rebelled against the AAP and resigned from the primary membership of the party in January 2019.

He floated his own outfit Punjabi Ekta Party and unsuccessfully contested the 2019 Lok Sabha elections from Bathinda seat.

Khaira then returned to the Congress along with rebel AAP legislators Jagdev Singh Kamalu and Pirmal Singh.

On June 3, he resigned as legislator before joining Congress.

Khaira had returned to the Congress nearly six years after quitting it.

According to a statement issued by the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, it is notified that consequent upon the resignation of Khaira, the seat of Bholath assembly constituency in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha has fallen vacant with effect from October 19.

"I had resigned as MLA on 3rd June before joining the Congress. Thereafter, the speaker asked me to submit my resignation in a proper format which I did today in person. My resignation has been accepted,” said Khaira in a statement.

The AAP had been seeking disqualification of Khaira as an MLA under the anti-defection law.

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