Congress expels rebel leaders in Uttarakhand

Former CM Vijay Bahugana’s son expelled from Congress

A week to go for the trial of strength in Uttarakhand, Congress today expelled former chief minister Vijay Bahuguna’s son Saket and another leader for “anti-party” activities as beleaguered Chief Minister Harish Rawat accused the Centre of destabilising his government.

The Congress and the BJP have also decided to knock the doors of President Pranab Mukherjee when their delegations will meet and put their cases before him.

The action against Saket, whose father rebelled and voted against the government in the assembly on Friday, and Congress joint secretary Anil Gupta came after they were accused of siding with the nine MLAs who rebelled against the Rawat government.

Addressing a press conference in Dehradun, Harish Rawat accused the BJP-led Central government of “killing democracy” by using its brute majority to cause “political instability” in a small state and the BJP of using “money and muscle” power.

This, he said, was not good for the state as it may see a new Chief Minister every year and the dreams of the hill state will be shattered.

Meanwhile, a delegation headed by former Defence Minister A K Antony will meet the President and complain against the “game of destabilisation” indulged in by the BJP. It will include Ghulam Nabi Azad, Motilal Vora, Ambika Soni, Ahmed Patel and Kapil Sibal.

On the rival side, all BJP MPs from the state and 35 MLAs including Vijay Bahuguna and sacked minister Harak Singh Rawat and seven Congress rebel MLAs, will march from Vijay Chowk to Rashtrapati Bhawan. Their delegation headed by party leaders Kailash Vijayvargiya and Shyam Jaju will call on him and seek dismissal of the Rawat government.

BJP claims that it has the support of 36 MLAs, including the nine rebel Congressmen, in a House of 70.