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BSP expels Imran Masood for indiscipline
The party took action against Masood after he praised Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, triggering speculation that he may re-join the Congress before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. “It was good to have worked with Rahul Gandhi. He can understand the problems of even ordinary party workers,” Masood had said, talking to the media on Sunday.
Lucknow: Former MLA Imran Masood was expelled from the Bahujan Samaj Party on Tuesday for indiscipline and anti-party activities.
The party took action against Masood after he praised Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, triggering speculation that he may re-join the Congress before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. “It was good to have worked with Rahul Gandhi. He can understand the problems of even ordinary party workers,” Masood had said, talking to the media on Sunday.
In a press statement BSP Saharanpur district unit president Janeshwar Prasad said after reports that Masood indulged in indiscipline and anti-party activities, a probe was ordered by the party state unit. Masood was expelled on the basis of the report. The party leadership had earlier warned him but there was no change in his working style, Prasad said.
Masood, an influential Muslim leader from Saharanpur district in western Uttar Pradesh, joined the BSP after the 2022 assembly elections. Before the 2022 assembly elections, Masood had defected from the Congress to the Samajwadi Party while his brother Noman Masood joined the BSP.
Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati had appointed Imran Masood as the coordinator of west UP, giving him the task to motivate the Muslim community to support the BSP in the coming Lok Sabha elections.
Janeshwar Prasad said Imran Masood was handed membership book to launch membership drive in west UP but he remained inactive. His wife Saima Masood contested the Mayoral election from Saharanpur Municipal Corporation on BSP ticket but was defeated by the BJP candidate. The party had made it clear to Masood that if his wife lost the Mayor’s election, he would not get Lok Sabha election ticket. But he was putting pressure on the party to declare him as Lok Sabha candidate from Saharanpur seat, he said.
Haji Fazlur Rehman had won the Saharanpur Lok Sabha seat in the 2019 on the BSP ticket, defeating BJP candidate Raghav Lakhanpal.
When contacted, Masood said, “I committed a mistake by deserting the Congress before the 2022 assembly elections. Under pressure from my supporters, I left the Congress. Even after leaving the Congress. I have a good relationship with Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Vadra. I respect both the leaders. I was not invited to the party (BSP) meeting held under the chairmanship of Mayawati in Lucknow on August 23.”
