The expulsion of Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (UKD) patron Kashi Singh Airy and nine other members has sparked off strong reaction against the party president Trivendra Singh Panwar.
The party vice president Narendra Singh has strongly opposed this step and stressed that Panwar will not be allowed to remain the party chief for long as his actions are damaging the party.
Addressing media persons in Dehradun, Singh said that actions like expulsion of the party patron and members would break the party and would not be tolerated. lambasting Panwar for his autocratic attitude and unconstitutional actions, he said that the party chief had been repeatedly taking actions which were damaging the party. “Despite his tenure expiring, Panwar has continued to retain the post of the UKD chief in an unconstitutional manner. We will call a meeting of the party executive in a few days to elect a new chief of the party. The unconstitutional expulsion of Airy and nine party members is not the first such action. The situation has deteriorated to such an extent that now the party lacks workers and leaders which is a cause for serious concern,” said Singh.
He stressed that since Panwar’s tenure had ended, he was not authorised to take the decisions he had taken especially against the leaders and workers dedicated to the UKD. The party had seen strong discontent on the issue of its mayoral candidate in Dehradun, but Panwar refused to budge and went against the party patron. Those opposed to Panwar point out that after expelling the then cabinet minister Diwakar Bhatt from the party, he also suspended the party’s sole MlA and cabinet minister Pritam Singh Panwar which has created a dearth of leaders in the party. They also stress that most party workers are not in the mood to tolerate Panwar any longer as the head of the UKD.