Taking a tough stand against die-hard loyalist of former Karnataka chief minister B.S. Yeddyurappa, the ruling party expelled former Union minister V. Dhananjaya Kumar for six years on Tuesday.
The expulsion came within hours of the former minister’s criticism of several leaders, including general secretary H.N. Ananth Kumar, state unit president K.S. Eshwarappa and organising secretary of the party, Santosh, in his reply to a showcause notice served on him for attacking chief minister Jagadish Shettar on the Cauvery water dispute with Tamil Nadu earlier this month. Such stringent action could spell trouble for the three-month-old government headed by Mr Shettar and intensify the acrimony between Mr Yeddyurappa and other leaders of BJP, according to sources in the state unit of the party.
General secretary of the state unit, Raghunathrao Malkapure, who issued the order, said the former special representative of the Karnataka government in New Delhi was expelled with immediate effect.
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Haryana sets up probe panel
AGE CORRESPONDENT
chandigarh, Oct. 16
Ashok Khemka, an IAS officer of the Haryana cadre posted as director, consolidation, and special collector, was transferred on October 11, 2012 and posted as managing director, Haryana Seeds Development Corp. He has tried to link this transfer to certain actions that he had taken on subsequent dates. As a matter of fact, as far back as August 1, 2012, he had written to the chief secretary requesting the withdrawal of one of the charges held by him on the grounds that his orders were applicable to officers junior to him.
The state government spokesman said preliminary facts brought to the notice of the state by the district revenue authority at Gurgaon point out that prima facie the factual position is different from the stand taken by Mr Khemka. The state government has nonetheless ordered an inquiry into all the issues raised by Mr Khemka. The inquiry committee will be headed by the additional chief secretary and will have two other senior members from the state government. The inquiry is to be completed within a month.
The committee will look into the legality of actions taken by officials concerned, including acts of omission and commission, if any.