With the announcements of Mandi parliamentary by-election, both Congress and BJP has deferred their disciplinary action against the rebels indulging in anti-party activities during the Assembly elections.
Congress had issued showcause notice to 84 party workers who worked against the official candidates of the party during the Assembly election based on the complaints received from block level committee, district level committee and official candidates.
However, only a dozen of them had replied to the notices while others abstained themselves from replying. Party had promised action against those who had failed to reply within the stipulated time.
Similar was the case with BJP which had issued over 100 showcause notices to different party workers and leaders but very few replied. Party’s disciplinary committee headed by Ganesh Dutt met on Sunday at party headquarters and the committee recommended disciplinary actions against the rebels.
According to Dutt, disciplinary committee had recommended expulsion of 24 party leaders, suspension of 36 party workers and another 36 party workers should be given warning. “Though recommendation of the committee had been sent to party president but action is only likely after the by-election,” said a senior party leader.
The move of both the parties comes in the wake of Mandi bypoll which has high stakes politically with Pratibha Singh, wife of Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh likely to contest the election.
Among the rebels who gave a dent to both Congress and BJP, several are from Mandi parliamentary constituency and thus both the parties were forced not to take any disciplinary action against them.
State Congress president Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu said that indiscipline in the party cannot be tolerated and party will take action against leaders and workers who worked against the official candidates in the Assembly polls. When asked when the action will be taken, Sukhu refused to reply and said very shortly.