Date:24/07/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/07/24/stories/2007072457460100.htm

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BJP suspends 5 Gujarat MLAs

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: Bharatiya Janata Party president Rajnath Singh on Monday suspended five Gujarat MLAs on grounds of indiscipline.

Cross-voting

The action followed reports that there was cross-voting in favour of United Progressive Alliance-Left Presidential candidate Pratibha Patil in the July 19 Presidential election.

Soon after the voting, some party MLAs reportedly made statements, saying they voted for Ms. Patil to teach Chief Minister Narendra Modi and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha L.K. Advani a lesson.

These MLAs had been openly making statements against Mr. Modi and Mr. Advani and the party decided to crack the whip after they failed to vote for Presidential candidate Bhairon Singh Shekhawat.

The suspension letters were sent to them on Monday morning.

The party, however, officially said the action had nothing to do with the Presidential election.

The MLAs, Gordhan Jhadaphia, Balubhai Tanti, Becharbhai Bhadani, Bavkubhai Unghad and Dhirubhai Gajera, it was made clear, would most likely be expelled.

Apparently, a recommendation that they be suspended came from the State unit president and after consultations with some leaders, including Arun Jaitley, who was recently made in-charge of the Gujarat Assembly elections that are due later this year, Mr. Singh suspended them. A senior party leader said some MLAs were attending Congress meetings. He did not rule out more suspensions.

Party spokesperson Prakash Javadekar said they wanted to send out a strong message that indiscipline would not be tolerated. “The five MLAs are no longer with the party. The chapter is closed.” The number of MLAs suspended is seven now. Two were suspended earlier.

Asked whether the party would take action against the former Chief Minister, Keshubhai Patel, whose leadership the five MLAs acknowledge, Mr. Javadekar replied in the negative.