Jaipur: The CPI(M) on Monday suspended its party MLA in Rajasthan Balwan Poonia for one year with immediate effect citing indiscipline during the Rajya Sabha polls as the main reason for taking the action.
In a party press release, state secretary Amra Ram said that the MLA has also been given a show cause notice and seven days time to submit his explanation on the same.
"The action has been taken after discussing the matter with party leaders against the indiscipline shown by the MLA in the recent Rajya Sabha polls," he added.
Official sources said that Poonia did cast the vote without seeking permission from party leaders. However, another party MLA Girdharilal Mahiya did not come to cast his vote citing health reasons.
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Rajya Sabha polls were held on June 19 in which CPI(M) MLA Poonia voted in favour of the Congress.
The Congress won two seats while the BJP grabbed one seat in the elections after MLAs from both parties were sent for camping in plush resorts to avoid poaching.
When contacted, Poonia said he will submit his reply to the party. As many as 198 MLAs out of 200 had cast their votes.
Of the 198, Congress party's both the candidates got 123 votes in all and the BJP candidates got 74 votes. One vote of BJP got rejected.
The Congress, which has 107 MLAs, got the support of all 13 independents and the legislators of other parties including one of CPI (M) MLA, while the BJP has 72 MLA and support of three Rashtriya Loktantrik Party MLAs.
With inputs from IANS
