The ongoing prolonged tussle within Chhattisgarh Congress took an ugly turn on Wednesday as the Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) suspended the two legislators who are known as the die-hard supporters of the former Chief Minister Ajit Jogi.
Jogi and the PCC chief Bhupesh Baghel have a track record of bitter rivalry against each other and both the leaders have renewed their jealousy in recent months with outburst against each other in public which has embarrassed the party on several occasions in the State where Congress is out of power since December 2003.
Baghel has accepted the gauntlet thrown by Jogi and on Wednesday he suspended Siyaram Kaushik, MlA from Bilha constituency of Bilaspur district and Rajendra Kumar Rai, MlA from Gunderdehi of Durg district for their ‘anti-party activities’. The tougher decision against two hardcore Jogi loyalists is set to further escalate rivalry between the two heavyweights, Jogi and Baghel, of the Congress in Chhattisgarh.
The decision for suspension was taken at a meeting of party's disciplinary committee chaired by Baghel though both the MlAs have cried foul and said they were victimised for their proximity with Jogi.
The suspended MlAs have alleged that PCC Chief Baghel has Rsmisrepresented’ the facts before party high-command in New Delhi regarding their alleged anti-party role. The disciplinary committee discussed in details about the complaints against MlAs - Siyaram Kaushik and RK Rai, former Bilaspur Mayor Vani Rao and former MlA from Raipur East constituency Kuldeep Singh Juneja.
The committee found enough evidence to act against Rai and Kaushik who were found involved in anti-party activities during the recently concluded civic body polls in the State while Rai had also commented against AICC treasurer Motilal Vora.
PCC had earlier slapped notices on the four leaders seeking their reply on the issue. later, Juneja and Rao had regretted in their replies while no response was received from Rai and Kaushik following which the suspension was announced.