In a significant political development, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Haryana has expelled eight prominent leaders, including former state minister Ranjit Singh Chautala, for six years.
This expulsion by Haryana BJP comes in the wake of these leaders’ decisions to contest the upcoming October 5 state Assembly polls as independent candidates.
Leaders expelled by Haryana BJP?
According to the media reports, Haryana BJP chief Mohan Lal Badoli announced the immediate expulsion of Chautala along with seven others.
The list of the other seven candidates – Sandeep Garg (Ladwa), Zile Ram Sharma (Assandh), Devender Kadian (Ganaur), Bachan Singh Arya (Safidon), Radha Ahlawat (Meham), Naveen Goel (Gurugram), and Kehar Singh Rawat (Hathin).
Was Ranjit Singh Chautala an independent MLA?
Taking notes from this latest development, Chautala’s expulsion is particularly noteworthy as he had recently joined the BJP after resigning from his Assembly seat.
His decision to quit the party and contest independently came after being denied a ticket from the Rania constituency, which he previously represented as an independent MLA.
Is Congress taking similar actions in Haryana?
Moreover, this move by the BJP mirrors a similar action taken by the Haryana Congress, which expelled 13 of its leaders on Friday for “anti-party activities” related to their independent candidacies.
Notably, several leaders of both the BJP and the Congress were upset over being denied tickets to contest the Assembly polls, but the parties have managed to pacify most of them.
What does this expulsion underscore?
The 90-member Haryana Assembly elections are scheduled for October 5, with vote counting set for October 8. As the BJP aims for a third consecutive term in power, these expulsions highlight the party’s strict stance against dissent and its efforts to maintain party discipline in the run-up to the crucial polls.
