Chhattisgarh: Congress suspends 2 MLAs for anti-party activities

Raipur, Jan 28: Chhattisgarh Pradesh Congress Committee (CPCC) on Wednesday suspended two of its party legislators, said to be close aides of former chief minister Ajit Jogi, for their alleged anti-party activities.

"The party has suspended Siyaram Kaushik, MLA from Bilha constituency of Bilaspur district and Rajendra Kumar Rai, MLA from Gunderdehi seat of Durg district for their anti-party activities," Congress State General Secretary and spokesperson Shailesh Nitin Trivedi told PTI.

The decision in this connection was taken during a meeting of party's disciplinary committee chaired by state chief Bhupesh Baghel today, he said. The committee discussed over the complaints of indiscipline activities by

- Siyaram Kaushik and RK Rai, former Bilaspur Mayor Vani Rao, former MLA from Raipur East constituency Kuldeep Singh Juneja, Trivedi said.

As per discussion, Rai, Kaushik, Juneja and Rao were allegedly involved in anti-party activities during the just concluded civic body polls in the state while Rai had also commented against AICC treasurer Motilal Vora, he said.

CPCC had earlier slapped notices on the four leaders seeking their reply on the issue. Later, Juneja and Rao had regretted in their reply while no response was received from Rai and Kaushik following which the step was taken, he said.

Meanwhile, terming the move as a "one-sided action", the suspended MLAs claimed that they haven't received any kind of notices from the party leadership. "I haven't received any notice from the party. I have been suspended in a one-sided action," Rai told PTI.

Blaming the party state chief Baghel of hiding the facts from high command, he said he will meet with party President Sonia Gandhi and Vice President Rahul Gandhi on the matter.

He claimed, "I have been suspended because of my closeness with former CM Ajit Jogi."

Similarly, Kaushik also defended himself by saying that he had not violated any party discipline and the action was taken without issuing him any notice.

PTI