Just a day before the Lok Sabha election results, the Chandigarh Congress on Monday expelled many supporters of Pawan Kumar Bansal accusing them of having indulged in “anti-party activities” during the polls. It also relieved many others, also supporters of the senior leader, of their posts.
“Consequent to a report received from Jagdish Chander, ex-MLA from Rajasthan and observer for the Chandigarh parliamentary constituency, and after due deliberations with the Indian National Congress candidate Manish Tewari and senior leaders of the party and after approval from Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, general secretary (organization) K C Venugopal and Rajiv Shukla, AICC in charge, Chandigarh, these persons are expelled from the party for 6 years for anti-party activities in the recently concluded parliamentary elections,” Chandigarh Congress president H S Lucky said in a statement.
Some of the expelled functionaries had sought an apology after “Bansal was pushed by mistake by AAP councillors” on the stage when Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi addressed an election rally.
Those who have been expelled are former Mahila Congress president Deepa Dubey, Chandigarh Territorial Congress Committee (CTCC) vice-president Hafiz Anwarul Haq, general secretary Ravi Thakur, secretary Sahil Dubey and member Abhishek Shanky.
Many others including CTCC vice-president Harphool Kalyan, general secretary Hakam Sarhad, general secretary Venod Sharma, secretary Manoj Garg and former councillor Satish Kainth have been relieved of their posts.
“This decision, which came a day before the Lok Sabha results, was definitely expected,” a Congress member relieved of a party post said on the condition of anonymity.
The Congress has fielded Manish Tewari against BJP candidate Sanjay Tandon for the Chandigarh Lok Sabha seat.
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