The disciplinary action committee of the Congress on Monday suspended Suresh Kalmadi, the sitting Lok Sabha member, from the party a few hours after he was arrested by the CBI in connection with irregularities in the Commonwealth Games projects.
“The DAC of the party has suspended Suresh Kalmadi from the party,” the Congress general secretary and AICC media department chairman Janardan Dwivedi told reporters on Monday evening.
Mr Kalmadi was removed from the post of the Congress parliamentary party secretary in November, even before the Shunglu committee gave its report to the government.
According to the Congress sources, Mr Kalmadi’s suspension will not affect the party’s strength in the Lok Sabha as he continues to be the member of the CPP.
“The party takes action against those who are arrested, merely filing a chargesheet cannot be a sufficient ground for suspension,” highly placed sources said. This means the Congress leaders involved in the Aadarsh housing scam in Mumabi may not be suspended until they are arrested.
The axe fell on the 67-year old Lok Sabha member from Pune with the party’s DAC headed by senior leader A.K. Antony deciding his suspension.
Soon after his arrest during the day, the Congress gave enough hints about the action against the MP.
Responding to questions about Mr Kalmadi, Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari clearly indicated that Mr Kalmadi was in for more trouble saying, “Let there be no ambiguity... At an appropriate time, appropriate, demonstrable and visible action will be taken.”
Mr Kalmadi had earlier quit the Congress when Sitaram Kesri was the party chief.