The Bharatiya Janata Party has taken action against 40 of its office-bearers and party workers for anti-party activities in the run up to polling for the three-tier Panchayat elections in the State. A statement issued by the BJP State general secretary Rajendra Bhandari states that action has been taken against these party office bearers and members based on the reports received from district-level committees formed in various districts by the party. These 40 persons have been relieved of their position in the party and will also be suspended soon.

According to Bhandari, action was taken against these office bearers and party workers for filing nomination against the party-supported candidates in the Panchayat elections and prima facie involvement in anti-party activities.

They have been relieved of their positions with immediate effect on the directions of the party’s state president Ajay Bhatt.

The maximum number of office bearers and workers against whom action has been taken are from the Tehri district.

Here, action has been taken against 14 members including the party’s former Mandal vice president Sachendra Semwal, Mandal SC cell vice president Magan Lal, block Pramukh Neelam Bisht and Bhola Parmar among others.

In the Nainital district, action has been taken against Ramgarh Mandal general secretary Khim Singh, former Block Pramukh Lakhan Negi, Yuva Morcha Ramgarh Mandal chief Kamal Singh Gaur, former Mandal general secretary and ex Kisan Morcha district general secretary Lokesh Bisht, former head of Uttarakhand dairy federation and ex-member of BJP State executive Mohan Singh Bisht and the Mandal general secretary Sunita Bisht among others. Action has been taken against four members in Pithoragarh district including the district media in-charge Jagat Martoliya, Yuva Morcha Mandal head Rajendra Singh, ex soldiers’ cell office bearer Harish Singh and party worker Bhuwan Chandra Pandey.

In Almora district, the party has relieved Mahila Morcha state minister Kalpana Bora of her post.

Similarly, in Bageshwar district, action has been taken against party’s district minister Mohan Singh Rawat, Sunil Dosad and Mahesh Bagri-both district vice presidents of Yuva Morcha, Mandal general secretary Navin Parihar and the party’s district executive member Pushpa Takuli.

Similar action has been taken against two office bearers each of the party in Pauri, Uttarkashi and Dehradun districts for anti-party activities.