Sharad Yadav, Ali Anwar disqualified as Rajya Sabha members

New Delhi: Rebel JDU MPs Sharad Yadav and Ali Anwar were disqualified from the Rajya Sabha tonight, according to a communication from chairman of the House M Venkaiah Naidu.

Naidu in his communication said they cease to be Rajya Sabha members with immediate effect.

The Rajya Sabha chairman agreed to the JDU's contention that the two senior leaders had "voluntarily given up" their membership by defying their party's directives and attending events of opposition parties.

The JDU had sought their disqualification on the grounds that they had attended a rally of opposition parties in Patna in violation of its direction.

Yadav had joined hands with the opposition after JDU president and Bihar chief minister Nitish Kuamar dumped the Grand Alliance in Bihar and tied up with the BJP.

Yadav was elected to the House last year and his term was scheduled to end in 2022. Anwar's term was to expire early next year.

The former JDU president, who is at present in Gujarat to campaign against the BJP, is expected to respond to his disqualification tomorrow.