Disciplinary Committee of the Pradesh Congress Committee on Tuesday removed twelve of its leaders for their anti-party activities. The list included top leaders like Chandrashekhar Dubey, Stephen Marandi, Israel Ansari, Niel Tirkey and Clemensia Kujur. The leaders have been dismissed from the party’s primary membership for six years. The decision was announced after the five-member committee headed by Tilakdhari Singh met.

“Some of the leaders have already left the party to join others and some have resigned as well from the Congress. There are also who have worked against the interests of the party during polls,” said PCC president Sukhdeo Bhagat who presided over the meeting.

Notably, Dubey and Niel Trikey had already quit the party to join TMC and AJSU party respectively and have contested the lok Sabha polls against Congress’ official nominees. Stephen Marandi has openly supported JVM chief Babulal Marandi and joined the party as well. Other leaders into the list are KS Chatterjee, Sashikant Tirkey, Mrityuanjay Sharma, Debashish Roy, Rajesh Mandal, Nitima Bari Bodra and Pradeep Kesri.

Justifying the decision, Bhagat said, “The leaders were taking the party discipline very lightly and going to the media despite being given repeated warnings. This has taken a dent on our poll prospects during the elections. We are also going to hold a meet of extended working committee on May 4 and have sought more such names from our district units who worked to harm the party.”

Commenting upon the leaders crossing lines, Bhagat termed it sheer opportunism. “Whatever they are it is due to the party. Their identities are with the party. The party had given them the place they deserve. And now they have treated the party in this manner,” said the PCC president.

He also dismissed the arguments of Congress’ Godda candidate Furkan Ansari who had blamed the party for not extending desired support to him during the elections. “We have conducted sufficient programme at Godda. Even Rahul Gandhi addressed a rally. The Chief Minster also did a joint rally,” he said. Ansari while charging the party had even termed Bhagat

“immature.” The committee that also include Geetashree Oraon, Radha Krishna Kishore, Harinarayan Prasad and Ashok Chaudhary as members also expelled Roshan lal Bhatia for his anti-party comments and issued a show cause notice against him.