Independent legislator Swadesh Rai, who emerged victorious from Sehore in the recent Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections after raising a banner of revolt in the principal Opposition Congress and daughter of the party’s State president Kantilal Bhuria’s brother Kalawati are among 29 leaders expelled from the Congress on Friday at a State Disciplinary Committee meeting here.
The gathering, chaired by Committee head Chandra Prabhash Shekhar, deliberated on all complaints received in the context of the polls. It was decided to immediately remove those who contested against the Congress' 'official' candidates. Other charges would be taken up on January 22. The days in between would be utilised in gathering facts regarding the accusations. The case of ex-MlA Mohan Singh Bundela, who was driven out for anti-party activities during the 2008 Vidhan Sabha elections, was also taken up and it was decided that his expulsion would continue to be in force.
Bhuria contested against the Congress nominee from Jhabua. Vinod Shukla, who is a sibling of former minister Rajendra Shukla and was in the fray as an independent from Mauganj, was also axed. Others are Bhind District’s Harshvardhan Bhadauriya; Gwalior’s Shatrughan Singh; Guna’s Sunil Malviya; Sagar’s Brijendra Devliya; Chhatarpur’s Neelmani Singh; Damoh’s Ramkali; Rewa’s Sarita Singh and Jaiveer Singh; Umaria’s Gyanwati Singh; Mandla’s Dinesh Tumrachi; Harda’s Rajendra Patel; Shajapur’s lal Singh, Ramlal Malviya and Yogendra Singh; Dewas' Ratanlal Malviya; Khargone’s Sachin Birla; Indore’s Kamlesh Kumar; Ujjain’s Dinesh Jain; Mandsaur’s Ayesha Bi; Neemuch’s Munna Bairagi and Rajkumar Ahirwar.
Five leaders who contested under other parties' banners were also expelled. They are Suraj Jaiswal who was in the arena from Bargi, lalmani Pande (Semariya), Rudra Pratap Singh (Shamshabad), Ejaz Sheikh (Khargone) and Bechain Ram (Amla).