The man responsible for putting up posters at Kumbh mela, which portrayed Congress president Sonia Gandhi as Rani Laxmi Bai and vice-president Rahul Gandhi as Lord Shiva, has been suspended from the party.

City Congress chief Shyam Krishna Pandey has suspended senior party worker Abhai Awasthi from the party’s primary membership with immediate effect.

Calling Awasthi a habitual offender, Pandey said, earlier, he had put up posters portraying Gandhi as the Goddess Durga and Rahul as the Lord Krishna.

“A showcause notice is being issued to Awasthi, asking why he is indulging in such anti-party activities and attempting to tarnish the secular image of the Congress and its top leadership,” said Pandey.

He has to file the reply within a week, failing which, he would be expelled.