NEW DELHI: BJP on Saturday expelled 21 members, including councillors, for six years for indulging in anti-party activities. At least 17 of them are contesting as independents.
The list includes sitting councillors Nikki Singh (New Ashok Nagar), Sandhya Verma (Patparganj), Kishan Gehlot (who won the bypoll from Nawada last year), Praveen Rajput (Sagarpur) and Dr Pankaj Singh (Kunwar Singh Nagar). Upset with the party’s decision to not field the councillors, they are contesting as independents. “The party’s decision to deny tickets to councillors who have worked in their area was wrong,” said a councillor.
The list also includes names of district and mandal-level workers like Satvir Chauhan (mandal president Rithala, Naval Singh (Rohini A), Shailendra Pandey (former president of poorvanchal wing), Ritu Raj (Mohan Garden), Bobby Sehgal (Rohini H mandal) among others.
“These people are contesting against the party. They all have been expelled for a period of six years,” said Rajiv Babbar, spokesperson and Delhi BJP vice-president.
Party members alleged that the leadership had been “selective” in its decision, as there are many who are contesting as independents. Eight members of Shahdara district are contesting, but their names don’t figure in the expulsion list, they said.
Seven-10 more members will also be expelled if they refuse to withdraw from the elections, sources said.
“We had tried to convince these 21 people not to contest against the party. But they all have refused to withdraw. This is why the party had to take this extreme step,” said a senior BJP member.
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