New Delhi, May 31 : BJP today suspended Jammu and Kashmir legislature party leader Chaman Lal Gupta from the primary membership of the party for six years with immediate effect for leading six other MLAs in cross-voting in the recent Legislative Council elections.
The decision was taken by the BJP Parliamentary Board at its meeting here after Gupta issued a show-cause notice to four BJP MLAs who had voted for the party candidate.
Gupta, a former Union minister, and six others had voted against the BJP in elections top the Upper House leading to their suspension.
"The Parliamentary Board noted with concern the continued anti-party activity of Gupta. Though he has already been suspended from the party on the charge of anti-party activity, yet he has issued showcause notice to four BJP MLAs," Secretary of BJP Parliamentary Board Ananth Kumar said in a statement.
"This, the Parliamentary Board treats as a further case of gross indiscipline and resolves to expel Gupta from the primary membership of the BJP for a period of six years with immediate effect," Kumar said.
Party sources maintain that Gupta and the six other MLAs had defected due to monetary considerations.
While this decision has been conveyed to Gupta, the party is in the process of communicating it to the Speaker and BJP state unit chief. PTI
