Ch’garh: Cong MLA suspended for anti-Rahul comment

Police officer-turned MLA Rajendra Kumar Rai was on Tuesday suspended from the Congress party for giving statement against Rahul Gandhi. Another staunch supporter of Ajit Jogi Siyaram Kaushik, MLA, was also issued notices for anti-party activities.

After a PCC Coordination Committee meeting, AICC General Secretary in Charge of Chhattisgarh B K Hariprasad told reporters here that Rajendra Kumar Rai has been suspended and Siyaram Kaushik was issued notices for their anti-party activities.

Both Rai and Kaushik are known supporters of former Chief Minister Ajit Jogi, who had resigned from Congress and formed his own Chhattisgarh Janata Congress Party ahead of the 2017 Assembly election.

Earlier the party had expelled Marwahi MLA Amit Jogi from Congress for his anti-party activities. Junior Jogi was accused of supporting ruling BJP in the Antagarh assembly by-election, in which Jogi supporter Congress candidate Mangturam Pawar withdrew his nomination at the last moment to virtually give a walk over to the saffron party in the tribal seat.

The first-time MLA Rai has been facing expulsion from the party also for his recent statement against AICC Vice President Rahul Gandhi, questioning his political wisdom. Chhattisgarh PCC President Bhupesh Baghel on Tuesday also said a proposal has been sent to the AICC to expel Rai from the party for his activities.

Siyaram Kaushik, who defeated the current BJP State President Dharamlal Kaushik in the last election, could also be initially suspended and then expelled for his constantly and openly supporting Ajit Jogi and for participating in all their political meetings and activities.

PCC sources told Millennium Post, R K Rai was initially issued notice for his anti-party activities and was subsequently suspended. Following which, the Coordination Committee on Tuesday recommended for his expulsion. Adopting the same strategy, Kaushik was issued notice on Tuesday and would subsequently be suspended and then expelled.

"The coordination committee took serious note of the anti-party activities of some of the MLAs and leaders and decided to act strongly against them. AICC Treasurer Motilal Vora, who is also the member of the AICC disciplinary committee, also favoured strong action," a member of the committee said after meeting.