Chandigarh, 27 September
The Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC) on Friday expelled 13 party leaders for a period of six years for engaging in "anti-party activities." The leaders had chosen to contest the upcoming Haryana Assembly elections as independent candidates against official Congress nominees.
The decision to expel the leaders was taken to maintain party discipline, according to a statement issued by HPCC chief Udai Bhan.
The leaders expelled include Naresh Dhande (Guhla-SC), Pardeep Gill (Jind), Sajjan Singh Dhull (Pundri), Sunita Battan (Pundri), Rajiv Mamuram Gondar (Nilokheri-SC), Dayal Singh Sirohi (Nilokheri-SC), Vijay Jain (Panipat Rural), Dilbag Sandil (Uchana Kalan), Ajit Phogat (Dadri), Abhijeet Singh (Bhiwani), Satbir Ratera (Bawani Khera-SC), Nitu Mann (Prithla), and Anita Dhull Badsikri (Kalayat).
Despite efforts to placate several leaders dissatisfied over being denied tickets, these 13 members proceeded to file their nominations independently. The Congress party, in a bid to curtail further indiscipline, acted swiftly in expelling them.
While some leaders initially showed discontent, prominent figures such as Sampat Singh, who had filed his nomination from the Nalwa seat, and Ram Kishen 'Fauji' from Bawani Khera, eventually withdrew their candidacies after party interventions.