Indiscipline is rearing its head in a big way in the ruling Bahujan Samaj Party in Uttar Pradesh and is even chipping away at the party’s numerical strength in the state Assembly.
More than a dozen BSP leaders have been expelled from the party for “indiscipline and anti-party activities” in the past few weeks and if sources are to be believed, a similar number will be shown the door in the coming days.
If the party statements issued during the past few days are any indication, a large number of leaders are violating party discipline to indulge in anti-party activities — something that had never been witnessed before in the Bahujan Samaj Party.
Four BSP MLAS, namely Fareed Mehfooz Kidwai (Barabanki), Sher Bahadur Singh (Ambedkar Nagar), Satish Varma (Hardoi) and Guddu Pandit (Bulandshahr), have already defected to the Samajwadi Party, but the BSP claims to have expelled them earlier for indiscipline and anti-party activities.
Another sitting MLA, Dasrath Singh Chauhan, was shown the door two days ago for indiscipline.
Mr Malik Masood, the BSP nominee from Azamgarh, was also expelled for anti-party activities.
Former minister Avadh Pal Singh Yadav was given an exit ticket after he dared to challenge his indictment by Lokayukta in court.
Former MLC Surendra Nath Awasthi and his son Ashutosh Awasthi were expelled from the BSP a few weeks ago. On Tuesday, both joined the Congress in Delhi.
BSP MLA Shahnawaz Rana was earlier expelled from the party after he was charged with the rape of two women.
Fakir Siddiqui and Shankari Singh, the BSP candidates from Lucknow Assembly segments, have also been thrown out for anti-party activities after they were seen “talking to some Opposition leaders”.
According to party sources, all these leaders were thrown out of the BSP as soon as Ms Mayawati learnt that they were hobnobbing with other parties as well.
“In case of other leaders who are knocking at the doors of Opposition parties, similar action will be taken. The party will never tolerate betrayal of any kind,” said a senior BSP minister.
Meanwhile, another minister admitted that expulsions on such a large scale were tarnishing the image of the party that had always prided itself on discipline.
“Cancellation of tickets after announcement and expulsions will only lead to internal sabotage during the coming elections. The party leadership should go slow on such actions at this time,” felt the minister.f