Jaipur: The BJP has expelled seven more rebel candidates who are contesting as Independents against the party’s official nominees in the Rajasthan civic body elections.
The leaders have been removed from the party’s primary membership for six years. The latest action includes five rebels from the Ajmer Municipal Corporation and one each from the Jaitaran and Mundwa municipalities.
The BJP had earlier expelled 41 leaders September 7, taking the total number of leaders expelled so far to 48.
BJP State General Secretary Shravan Singh Bagdi issued the expulsion order, stating that the leaders were contesting as Independents against the party’s official candidates.
The party termed the move an act of indiscipline and said the action was taken under the instructions of State President Madan Rathore.
From the Ajmer Municipal Corporation, Arun Sharma (Ward 38), Neetu Mishra (Ward 41), Seema Goswami (Ward 52), Ruby Jain (Ward 74) and Dharmendra Singh Chauhan ‘Pancham’ (Ward 75) have been expelled for six years.
Several of those expelled have previously held party or elected positions. Seema Goswami is a former district president of the Ajmer City Mahila Morcha, while Arun Sharma is a former Mandal president.
Rakesh Solanki, a former councillor contesting from Ward 17 of Jaitaran Municipality, has also been expelled from the party.
The BJP has also taken action against Lakshmi Narayan Mundel, former state secretary of the Kisan Morcha, who is contesting from Ward 8 of Mundwa Municipality in Nagaur district.
The BJP has maintained that contesting against an official party candidate, supporting a rebel candidate or otherwise working against the party’s authorised nominees constitutes anti-organisational activity and gross indiscipline. Before the latest action, the BJP had expelled 41 office-bearers and party workers from its primary membership for six years.
The action was taken against leaders who contested as Independents against official candidates, supported rebel candidates or fielded family members against party nominees. The largest number of expulsions in the earlier list came from Jaipur, where 26 leaders and party workers were removed from the party.
The BJP’s successive expulsion orders underline the party leadership’s effort to enforce discipline during the Rajasthan civic body elections and prevent rebel candidates from affecting the prospects of its official nominees.
