Congress leader Rasheed Masood became the first casualty of the Supreme Court’s order banning convicted politicians from holding elected posts.
The Government’s efforts to protect Masood, who was recently convicted in a 23-year-old corruption case, by bringing an Ordinance faced opposition, even from Congress Vice-President, Rahul Gandhi.
The Rajya Sabha secretariat has sent a formal intimation to the Election Commission announcing Masood’s disqualification.
Masood, once a staunch loyalist of the Samajwadi Party, was a prize catch for Congress ahead of the last Assembly elections.
Congress, which was trying to expand its base in Uttar Pradesh, got him a place in the covetous Congress Working Committee.
Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Lalu Prasad and JD (U) MP Jagdish Sharma, both of whom were convicted in the fodder scam, are set to be formally disqualified by the Lok Sabha soon.