Rebel Congress MP to vote against UPA

With each member becoming crucial for the July 22 trial of strength, rebel Congress MP from Bhiwani Kuldeep Bishnoi has said he would vote against the UPA coalition in the Lok Sabha.

"I have been raising voice against the Congress-led UPA's anti-people policies. I don't want to commit political suicide and, therefore, there is no question of my voting in their favour," Bishnoi, younger son of former Haryana chief minister Bhajan Lal, said in Chandigarh last night.

Bishnoi, who has been suspended from the Congress, said he had recently written a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh citing ten objections to the Indo-US nuclear deal.

He said he had submitted his resignation to the Lok Sabha Speaker long ago, but it had not been accepted till date.

"I fear that Congress may disqualify me anytime," he said.

Bishnoi, who has been vocal against the Congress-led regime at the Centre and party government in Haryana, said he had been asked to appear before the Lok Sabha privileges committee for his alleged anti-defection activities.

Bishnoi had floated his own political outfit, the Haryana Janhit Congress, in December last year.

Out of 10 Lok Sabha MPs in Haryana, ruling Congress has 9 including Bishnoi while BJP has a lone MP from Sonepat.