After expelling former MlA from Unnao and senior leader Radhelal Rawat from primary membership on Wednesday, BSP chief Mayawati sacked veteran leader and former minister Indrajeet Saroj on Thursday evening.
Interestingly, rumours about another senior BSP leader Ramveer Upadhya also did the rounds on Wednesday evening soon after he met Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath flanked by former MlC Thakur Jaiveer Singh who resigned from the BSP to join the BJP.
Though the BSP issued no official statement, sources maintained that the BSP chief called up Saroj over telephone and told him about his removal. Saroj has been expelled from the party for indulging in anti-party activities.
A siotting MlA, Saroj has been cabinet minister twice in BSP governments besides being national general secretary of the party. He was supposed to be close to BSP chief Mayawati and was one of the main leaders from Allahabad and Kaushambi districts.
On the other hand, disappointed over the expulsion of Saroj, hundreds of BSP activists resigned from the party. After being expelled, Saroj alleged that the BSP chief demanded Rs 15 lakh from him and when he opposed, he was expelled.
Saroj claimed that Mayawati herself rang her up around 5 pm and informed him of his expulsion for failing ‘to deposit the demanded cash’. He further said that the BSP chief has lost her mental balance and should get herself treated.
When some BSP leaders were contacted to confirm about Saroj’s removal on Wednesday evening, they refused to make any comment.
Meanwhile, a BSP press statement on Wednesday said that former MlA Radhelal has been sacked from for anti-party activities. “We had warned the leader of not indulging in indiscipline but he did not improve his conduct and hence was expelled with immediate effect,” the release stated.