With the BJP inducting its rebels on day-to-day basis ahead of polls, the Congress has prepared to follow suit. The Congress is gearing up to welcome some top rebels, who have been suspended from the party or issued show cause notices, at Rahul Gandhi’s rally in Dharamshala on March 20.
The final decision in this regard will be taken on March 15, in the disciplinary committee meetings, which will decide their fate. In its earlier meeting on March 2, disciplinary committee referred the case of 86 rebels to Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC) president Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu after finding the replies to the show cause notice satisfactory.
“Yes, the disciplinary committee meeting is scheduled for March 15 and some of the rebels could be inducted back into the party on March 20, at the rally of Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi in Dharamshala,” said party spokesperson Naresh Chauhan also member of disciplinary committee.
Among the rebels include five former legislators who contested the Assembly elections independently against the official candidates or campaigned against the official candidates resulting in their suspension or show cause notices by the party leadership. Some of the party rebels were even expelled for a period of six years from the party on the complaints of official candidates or block level committees or district level committees. Among the former legislators, who were expelled by the party include OP Rattan from Una, Yograj from Dehra, Ishwar Das from Anni, Mastram from Karsog and Kashmir Singh from Ghumarwin Assembly constituencies.
Among other heavyweight rebels includes Karnesh Jung who contested as an independent candidate against party nominee. Jung had defeated the Congress candidate from Paonta Sahib of Sirmaur district and is now associate MlA of the party.