Sonia shows the door to six rebel MPs
HYDERABAD: The Congress high command on Tuesday expelled six of its rebel Seemandhra MPs from the party in what is being seen as a strategic move to put pressure back on the BJP.
The saffron party, which is understood to be entertaining second thoughts on the Telangana Bill, had been citing divisions within the Congress camp to turn the heat on the ruling party.
The six MPs who faced the axe are: Lagadapati Rajagopal, GV Harsha Kumar, Vundavalli Arun Kumar, A Sai Pratap, Sabbam Hari and Rayapati Sambasiva Rao.
The MPs had served notices for moving a no-trust move against the government in the Lok Sabha and have been disrupting Parliamentary proceedings to scuttle passage of the bill.
'Congress president Sonia Gandhi has approved of the party disciplinary committee's recommendation to expel the six MPs with immediate effect,' AICC general secretary Janardan Dwivedi said in a press release soon after the Lok Sabha was adjourned in the morning following protests by the rebels.
Congress communications wing chief Ajay Maken explained action was taken as the party's goal was to ensure passage of the bill in Parliament. Party state affairs incharge Digvijaya Singh cited the MPs' repeated attempts to move a no-trust motion against the government as the reason for their expulsion.
State Congress leaders are interpreting the move as a warning to their Seemandhra colleagues, including Union Ministers, not to disrupt the proceedings on Thursday when the bill is likely to be tabled in the Lok Sabha.
It is also being read as a strong message to Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy not to test the party's patience further. The expulsion of the MPs has been anticipated for some time.
Most of them have, in fact, been making overtures to other parties in the State to ensure their political survival given the bleak prospects of the Congress in the elections.
Speaking after their expulsion, Lagadapati Rajagopal and Sabbam Hari said the move had given them more freedom to protest in the Lok Sabha.
News Posted: 12 February, 2014
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