Speaker to accept Khanna’s resignation after verification

Varinder Singh

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 19

While the timing of Congress MLA from Dhuri Arvind Khanna’s resignation has kicked up a political storm, Vidhan Sabha Speaker Charanjit Singh Atwal had said he would accept it only after an “exhaustive” verification of documents.

Khanna, tipped to be in London, today again requested the Speaker over phone to accept his resignation at the earliest, said sources. The MLA had resigned in April last as well, but he backtracked from his decision at the last minute citing “personal” reasons.

After the flip-flop, he again resigned in May. Khanna is learnt to have written an e-mail, two letters and made three phone calls to the Speaker ever since, urging him to accept his resignation.

Atwal has sent his emissary to Khanna to ascertain whether or not the MLA had tendered his resignation. The Speaker is said to be awaiting a report from his emissary. The details of the numbers from which Khanna is said to have made calls are also being checked by the Vidhan Sabha staff to ensure a “foolproof” verification.

Khanna’s signatures on his resignation letter are reportedly being matched with the ones in the Vidhan Sabha record. “I have received his phone calls. But any action will be taken only after the verification is complete,” said Atwal.

Talking to The Tribune over phone, Khanna preferred to downplay the issue: “There is no politics behind my action. I am resigning due to personal reasons.”

A powerful businessman, Khanna is perhaps the only politician considered close to former CM Capt Amarinder Singh of the Congress and his archrival Sukhbir Badal of the SAD.

Asked whether he would hand over his resignation to Atwal, Khanna said, "The Speaker is studying the matter. I don't think going in person is an issue from the legal point of view. I have already fulfilled the norms." The 48-year-old politician was elected MLA for the first time from Sangrur in 2002.