State BJP president Deepak Prakash on Friday expelled former MLA Sukhdeo Bhagat, who had unsuccessfully contested the last Assembly election from Lohardaga for anti-party activities. Bhagat, the former State Congress president ahead of last year’s Assembly election, left Congress to join BJP. 

State BJP general secretary Aditya Sahu said, “On the directions of State BJP president Deepak Prakash, Sukhdeo Bhagat has been expelled from BJP for anti party activities.”

Recently, Sukhdeo Bhagat had been to Bermo to attend the nomination of Congress candidate Jaimangal Singh alias Anup Singh. When he was asked about his presence at the nomination of a Congress candidate, Bhagat said he had an emotional affinity with late Rajendra Prasad Singh and his family. Bhagat said that his proximity and personal rapport with the Singh family had forced him to be a part of Anup Singh’s nomination rally.

Last year Bhagat joined BJP over differences with Congress high command as the grand old party denied ticket to him from Lohardaga the seat, which he had represented on earlier occasions. Sources said that the main reason behind Bhagat leaving Congress party was his differences with State Congress president Rameshwar Oraon. Sources said that the differences between these two leaders resulted in Congress giving the ticket to Oraon from Lohardaga reserved seat denying Bhagat who had represented the seat twice.

The BJP fielded Sukhdeo from Lohardaga hoping that the two times MLA’s  charisma will be able to tounce Oraon, but in the wave of JMM/Congress Bhagat failed to retain the seat.

Sources said Bhagat, after the poll debacle, started keeping a distance from BJP. A senior BJP leader requesting anonymity said, “After the poll debacle of Bhagat in the Assembly election, Bhagat started keeping a distance from BJP leadership. He hardly visited BJP headquarters neither he took part in any party functions.”

The BJP leader claimed that as Bhagat started keeping a distance from the party they were in opinion that he might return to his old party.

Bhagat, a former administrative officer joined politics (Congress) party in 2005. He contested the 2005 Assembly election defeating Sadhnu Bhagat. However, in 2009 he lost to BJP AJSU alliance candidate KK Bhagat. In the 2015 bye election again Bhagat won the seat defeating AJSU party candidate. Sources said that the BJP has expelled Sukhdeo Bhagat as he is likely to return to Congress.