Crackdown on dissent: Political parties expel nearly 60 for anti-party activities

Patna: At a time when state assembly election campaigns have gained momentum and leaders are working hard to convince their voters, different political parties are also keeping a close watch on their leaders and workers, ensuring no one goes against the party line. In the last five days, nearly 60 leaders were expelled from major political parties, including JD(U), RJD, and BJP, for their anti-party activities. The recent one being ten expulsion in RJD on Wednesday.Amongst those expelled were sitting legislators, former legislators, as well as those holding important positions in the party and the reason for the expulsion was that either these leaders had decided to contest as an independent, or were supporting the candidate against the the one officially chosen by their party.For instance, RJD on Wednesday expelled ten leaders and on Monday had on expelled 27 leaders for six years, citing anti-party activity as the reason. Amongst those expelled were two sitting MLAs, Chhote Lal Rai and Mohammad Kamran. The party's women cell head, Ritu Jaiswal, was also expelled the same day as she decided to contest the election as an independent after being denied the ticket."They have been expelled from the primary membership of RJD for six years based on authorised information regarding their anti-party activities," read the statement issued by the party's state president, Mangani Lal Mandal.An evening before, on Sunday, state BJP also took stern action against some of its leaders, expelling them from the party. Amongst those expelled was BJP outgoing Kahalgaon MLA Pawan Yadav. Party sources said they were working against the officially declared BJP candidates.Even CM Nitish Kumar's JD(U) expelled 16 members on two consecutive days, Saturday and Sunday, including Gopalpur outgoing legislator Narendra Niraj, known as Gopal Mandal, who recently staged a dharna outside the CM's residence after being denied the ticket. Others on the list of those expelled were former MLAs and MLCs.JD(U) state spokesperson Anjum Ara said majority of those who were expelled were the ones who were contesting even after not being given the party symbol. "As a party worker, one has to abide by the decision of the leader and work for the party. The ticket and fighting election should not be ultimate goal," she added.