BJP gets tough with rebels, expels them

JAIPUR: Having failed to control them, the BJP on Friday, took severe action against the rebels. The party on Friday expelled 17 rebels, including former Cabinet minister Kirorilal Meena and former MP Vishvendra Singh, who had filed nominations as Independent candidates, with a clause that they could not return to the party for the next six years.
Senior BJP MP Ramdas Agarwal on Friday said that the party had decided to expel them for six years for anti-party activities.Agarwal told the media on Friday, ���There is no question of taking them back, even if they win. They have been expelled from the party���s primary membership.������
Senior BJP leaders, including chief minister Vasundhara Raje and state president Om Prakash Mathur, had spent the last three days talking and trying to convince them to withdraw their nominations. The BJP on Thursday had claimed that 21 rebels had withdrawn their nominations, however, sources confirmed that the party still faces threats from some bigwigs.
The list of expelled members includes 10 MLAs ��� Kirorilal Meena from Sawai Madhopur, Kanhaiyalal Meena from Bassi, Rakesh Meghwal from Parbatsar, Govind Chouhan from Khajuwala, Laxmi Barupal from Sojat, Arjun Singh Deora from Raniwara, Jeevaram Choudhary from Sanchor, K D Babar from Mandalgarh, Dataram Gurjar from Khetari, Arjun Jeenagar from Kapasan.
The two big names in the list are Kirorilal and Vishvendra Singh, who have been making headlines. A former Cabinet minister in the Raje government, Kirorilal Meena, despite assurances from senior BJP leaders, was denied tickets and is contesting independently from two seats ��� Todabheem and Sawai Madhopur.
Vishvendra Singh is dissatisfied as his wife Divya Singh was denied a ticket from Deeg-Kumher. Instead, the BJP preferred the Cabinet minister Dr Digambar Singh.
The list also includes former MLAs Rameshwar Bhati, Heera Singh Chouhan and a few district level office-bearers who were expecting tickets. Agarwal also said 15 other party rebels have been asked to retire by this weekend.