JUDGMENT

R.C. Lahoti, J.-Leave granted in S.L.P. (C) No. 21085 of 1998.

2. In all these appeals the controversy arising for decision is whether certain members of the municipal council have incurred disqualification on around of defection.

3. The Maharashtra Local Authority Members Disqualification Act, 1986 (Act No. 20 of 1987) (hereinafter the Act, for short) was enacted to provide for disqualification of members of certain local authorities on the ground of defection and for matters incidental and connected therewith). In exercise of the powers conferred by Section 9 of the Act, the Government of Maharashtra has framed the Rules known as the Maharashtra Local Authority Members Disqualification Rules, 1987 (hereinafter the Rules , for short).

4. We will refer to a few relevant provisions from the Act and the Rules insofar as are necessary for the purpose of the appeals before us. Section 2 is the interpretation clause. The relevant definitions are as under :

2. In this Act unless the context otherwise requires,-

(a) "aghadi" or "front" means a group of persons who have formed themselves into party for the purpose of setting up candidates for election to a local authority;

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