Only Sonia Gandhi can take action against me: Ranjit Deshmukh

Nagpur, Mar 27 (UNI) Former Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) president Ranjit Deshmukh, who is contesting the April 9 by-election from Ramtek Lok Sabha constituency against the official Congress candidate, has said only party President Sonia Gandhi had the moral authority to initiate disciplinary action against him.

Reacting to his expulsion from the Congress for six years for entering the fray against the party's official nominee in Ramtek, Mr Deshmukh said except for Ms Gandhi, nobody else had the moral authority to take action against him. Most party functionaries, barring a few 'honourable exceptions', had been unfaithful to the Congress at some time or the other, Mr Deshmukh said in a statement issued here late tonight.

Mr Deshmukh said his expulsion had denied him the benefit of natural justice, as he was not given an opportunity to be heard before the party leadership before action was initiated. The Congress had the democratic practice of seeking applications from the aspirants whenever an election is announced, and then selecting the candidate after a discussion in Parliamentary Board, he said.

However, in recent times, some leaders in the Congress have made it a habit of throwing out all that was good in the party, he also said, without naming anybody.

Earlier in Mumbai, a release issued by MPCC President Prabha Rau said Mr Deshmukh stood expelled from the primary membership of the Indian National Congress for six years for anti-party activities, with immediate effect and that the order is being issued with prior clearance from AICC.

UNI