By Arun Pratap Singh
Dehradun, 13 Jan: BJP had some days ago expelled a large number of rebel party workers for a period of six years for contesting against the official party candidates in the ongoing municipal elections. Now it has expelled 139 more rebel leaders, also for contesting against the official party candidates or for supporting the rebel candidates in the civic elections. Action has been taken against 139 rebels from seven districts.
It may be recalled that the BJP had served an ultimatum to all the rebel leaders till 8 January to support the BJP candidate, but it seems that a large number of these rebels have not complied with the direction issued by the party. Consequently, the BJP had to seek names and the lists of rebel leaders from the districts and has now expelled a total of 139 rebel leaders.
Action was taken against 100 leaders in the Garhwal division, with the highest number of rebel leaders emerging from Dehradun Mahanagar. In Dehradun Mahanagar, alone, the BJP has expelled 73 leaders.
Not only this, the party leadership has authorised all district presidents to expel rebel candidates.
According to Uttarakhand BJP state general secretary Aditya Kothari, about 139 party workers and officials have been expelled from both Garhwal and Kumaon divisions for contesting against the party candidate in the civic elections. Those expelled by the party include 4 rebels in Uttarkashi, 12 in Chamoli, 2 in Rudraprayag, 73 rebels in Dehradun Mahanagar, 23 in Rishikesh, 17 in Srinagar (Pauri Garhwal) and 8 in Pithoragarh.
Sources in the party indicated that expulsion of more rebels is expected soon. So far, the party is yet to take action against the rebels in Dehradun Rural, Tehri Garhwal, Haridwar, Roorkee, Kotdwar, Champawat, Nainital, Kashipur, and Udham Singh Nagar districts. Once the names of those to be expelled by the district party presidents are received, the BJP state headquarters will release the list.
On the other hand, rebel leaders have stated that they have worked for the party for years but were sidelined when they asked for a ticket. They argue that the BJP is no longer a Congress-free party but has become a Congress-filled party. Many of these leaders have shared their grievances with the media, with some even claiming that BJP has become Congress now as it is ignoring its own loyal party workers and is preferring now to give tickets to the Congress workers joining the BJP.
In some areas, the expelled candidates have also formed their own front, with many keeping a similar election symbol. They claim that they have made the nomination to protect their self-esteem and honour.
In Dehradun, today, Dehradun Mahanagar BJP President Siddharth Agarwal also released a list of 47 workers contesting elections against the party candidates, all of whom have been expelled from the party for six years.
