After mass exodus of Himachal lokhit Party (HlP) leaders to the BJP, it was the turn of last lieutenant vice-president Khushi Ram Balnataha of HlP, who was given marching orders by party chief Maheshwar Singh for his alleged rebellious activities.
Singh on Sunday shot a letter to his vice-president and organisation secretary Balnataha and alleged that he has been indulging in anti-party activities and holding secret meetings with party workers to provoke them to leave the party.
Maheshwar Singh in his letter said that being party president of HlP, he is relieving him from the post of organisation secretary, vice-president and all responsibilities of core committee of party.
He alleged that party has earlier unanimously decided against merger with BJP and extending unilateral support to Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) but some party leaders including Balnataha who have earlier supported the resolution of party were misguiding the party workers and provoking them to leave the party and join the BJP.
HlP chief also alleged that Balnataha was having secret understanding with BJP leaders and was deliberately working to weaken the party. He alleged that some leaders, who have recently joined the BJP including former legislators KD Dharamani and Dullo Ram were maintaining distance from the party activities and secretly indulging in anti-party activities.
Incidentally Balnataha is another former BJP legislator who has joined the HlP ahead of assembly elections in the State. When contacted, Balnataha said he worked with full dedication to strengthen the party from scratches and the allegations of anti-party activities are baseless.
“I have done a lot and given everything to the party as according to the party constitution but what I can’t do is to be a sycophant like the party chief,” said Balnataha.
According to sources, the party’s decision to not merge with the BJP and not contest the elections has affected the party badly as most of its leaders who left BJP and had joined HlP, were vying to contest the lok Sabha polls.