BJP expels 50 rebel party leaders in Uttarakhand for six years

Dehradun: The Bhartiya Janta Party which has faced the worst rebellion in western part of Uttar Pradesh , in addition to Uttarakhand, has not taken any action in that region but expelled as many as 33 party leaders, in the hill state, for six years, to prevent others from crossing the party line.

Many of them are contesting against the official party nominees after denial of ticket. Some others had indulged in " anti- party" activities following allotment of seats to new entrants to the party from the Congress . The party faces anger in the western part of U P for the same reason-- preference to those who have come from other parties over old party leaders who have " toiled " for it.

These rebels may cause losses to the official candidates in terms of votes, damaging party prospect in the state which is ruled by the rival, the Congress, which it would like to capture. It had removed from the party 15 other leaders earlier.

The election in the state is largely bi-polar, between the Congress and the BJP. Other parties including the Bahujan Samaj Party, which has two members in the present 70-member state assembly, do not matter as much.

These rebels have been shown the door just ten days before the one-day poll, unlike UP, where polling will be held on seven days. The swift action may have been taken in view of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit which is scheduled to take place on February 10.

Modi is likely to address rallies on three other days before the polling. Some other party leaders including home minister Rajnath Singh have already extensively toured the state and addressed rallies at different places. The party is trying hard to unseat the ruling parties in both the states.

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