Hunsur: The Deputy Commissioner has disqualified the membership of five Hunsur CMC Congress members on charges of cross-voting in the CMC Presidential polls held in Sept.2016.

The disqualified members are Shivaraj (Ward No. 5), Sunitha Jayarame Gowda (Ward No. 9), H.J. Yoganand (Ward No.10), H.C. Ravikumar (Ward No.18) and Fahimunisa (Ward No.26).

All the five Congress members were charged with voting against the official party candidates M. Shivakumar and P.K. Gulnaz in violation of the party whip in the Hunsur CMC Presidential polls that took place on Sept.9 last year. Following their defeat in the CMC polls even though the Congress had a majority, Shivakumar and Gulnaz moved the DC’s Court seeking disqualification of the five members, who defied the party whip.

The DC, who heard the case, disqualified the five members under Sections 4(1) A & 4(1) B of the Anti-Defection Act, 1987, on Sept.5, 2017. Advocate Mariadas argued on behalf of the defeated Congress candidates. Following the disqualification, the Congress now has 10 members while the JD(S) 9 and Independents-3.