Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, April 10
The Congress high command today expelled former Amargarh MLA and PPCC ex-chief Navjot Singh Sidhu’s loyalist Surjit Dhiman from the party for “anti-party” activities. The decision came hours after Amrinder Raja Warring was appointed the PPCC chief.
The expulsion is being seen as a warning to leaders who did not follow the party’s diktat. Senior party leaders did not rule out similar action against others in the coming days.
Questioned Warring’s appointment
- Amargarh ex-MLA Surjit Dhiman questioned Warring’s appointment as PPCC chief, calling him ‘inexperienced’
- He pointed out that Warring faced allegations of corruption during his tenure as IYC chief
- He termed Warring’s appointment as anti-Punjab, claiming it would prove counter-productive for the party
Dhiman had questioned Warring’s appointment, calling him inexperienced. He said Warring faced allegations of corruption during his tenure as IYC president.
He also said that an honest leader like Navjot Singh Sidhu was not given the second term as state party chief due to vested interests. He said Warring’s appointment was anti-Punjab and it would prove counter-productive for the party. Confirming Dhiman’s expulsion, Punjab affairs in charge Harish Choudhary said indiscipline would not be tolerated at any cost.
Meanwhile, PPCC chief Raja Warring, working president Bharat Bhushan Ashu and CLP deputy leader Dr Raj Kumar Chabbewal landed in Delhi today to meet senior party leaders. They Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur. “The BJP government is performing very well and there is no possibility of leadership change in the state,” said Nadda, also ruling out the possibility of a Cabinet reshuffle However, asked if ticket could be denied to sitting MLAs, Nadda said that was always a possibility as “we do change about 10 per cent party nominees in any election”. The statement could give sleepless nights to several leaders.
Even though talk of leadership change had been doing the rounds, Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia’s claim that Union Minister Anurag Thakur would be replacing Jai Ram Thakur had further fuelled the speculation.
“I am fully satisfied and happy with the coordination between the party and the government,” Nadda said. The BJP president, here on a four-day tour of the state, virtually kickstarted the BJP campaign not just for the Assembly elections but also the Shimla Municipal Corporation poll holding marathon meetings with the party’s state core committee, legislators and councillors during the last two days.
Denying infighting, he said: “The BJP is a party with democratic ethos, unlike others where speaking one’s mind is viewed as dissidence.” On the issue of granting old pension scheme to employees, he remained non-committal. “We have to come to a conclusion which is people-friendly after taking into account every aspect,” he maintained. — TNS
Day later, Congress expels Sidhu loyalist Dhiman
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