Ahead of upcoming lok Sabha polls, the Congress went soft on party rebels and disciplinary committee of the party has entrusted the State president to take call on their fate.
Earlier, the BJP had decided to take back the rebels into its fold. Several BJP rebels, who had contested the Assembly elections against the official party candidates or got indulged in anti-party activities were taken back by the party in past two months, keeping an eye on the upcoming polls and considerable support base the rebels enjoy in respective Assembly pockets.
Toeing the same line, Congress has also decided to go soft on the rebels, despite serious reservations made by some members of State executive committee of the party on turncoats and rebels. With general elections round the corner, the party hopes that these rebels can improve the prospects of party candidates in four parliamentary constituencies. A meeting of disciplinary committee of the party was held on Sunday at party headquarters at Shimla under the chairmanship of committee president AN Vidyarthi.
The Committee discussed the replies of 86 party leaders and workers, who were expelled, suspended or served showcause notices for indulging in anti-party activities during Assembly elections on the complaints of official candidates, block committees and district committees. The committee after discussing the replies of leaders and party workers entrusted the party president Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu to take any decision in consultation with official party candidates, block committees and district committees.
“Disciplinary committee has received replies from all the 86 leaders and party workers who were either expelled, suspended or were given show cause notices after complaints were received against them, from different levels,” said State spokesperson of the party and disciplinary committee member Naresh Chauhan. “We have called the next meeting of disciplinary committee on March 15 to discuss the fate of remaining party leaders and workers. Based on the reply which if found satisfactory, the party president will be entrusted to take a call on their fate,” added Chauhan.
last month after the executive meeting, Sukhu had said that rebels will only be taken back on merit basis. The disciplinary committee will study the pros and cons before arriving to any conclusion on their return to the party. Among those prominent who were expelled by the party included Karnesh Jung, who contested as an Independent candidate against party nominee. Jung defeated the Congress candidate from Paonta Sahib and is now associate member of the party. Prem lata Thakur, wife of former Horticulture Minister Satya Parkash Thakur was also expelled by the party for contesting elections against Congress candidate Sunder Thakur from Kullu constituency.
Former Congress legislators Kashmir Singh from Ghumarwin, Ishawardass from Anni and Mastram from Karsog were also expelled for contesting against the BJP candidates in their respective constituencies.