Congress district unit seeks lawmaker’s expulsion amid power tussle in C'garh

The expulsion of lawmaker Shailesh Pandey comes for his alleged anti-party activities amid a power tussle within the ruling party

Updated on: Sep 24, 2021, 12:01:00 IST

By Ritesh Mishra

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Congress’s Bilaspur district unit in Chhattisgarh has sought the expulsion of lawmaker Shailesh Pandey for alleged anti-party activities amid a power tussle within the ruling party. Pramod Nayak, the unit’s chief, said they have sent the recommendation to state Congress chief Mohan Markam.

The demand for Pandey’s expulsion comes days after he and his supporters rushed to a police station on Wednesday and opposed the registration of a case against Congress leader Pankaj Singh for allegedly assaulting an employee of a government hospital. Pandey claimed Singh was being implicated because he is close to state minister TS Singh Deo, who has been involved in a power tussle with chief minister Bhupesh Baghel.

Nayak said Pandey has said he is a supporter of Deo. “Every Congressman is a member of the party first... He also told journalists that police took action (against Singh) at the behest of higher authorities. Slogans against the chief minister were also raised.” He added Pandey’s conduct amounted to a breach of the party’s discipline.

Rajkumar Tiwari, the unit’s vice president, moved a proposal for Pandey expulsion for six years. The proposal was seconded by general secretaries of the unit. Later all the members of the unit supported it before it was sent to Markam.

Singh has questioned the case registered against him asking if he was being targeted for being close to Deo.

Baghel, Deo, and Tamradhwaj Sahu, now home minister, emerged as the front runner for the chief minister’s post when Congress returned to power in the state In December 2018.

The case against Singh put the focus back on the leadership struggle in Chhattisgarh.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ritesh Mishra
Ritesh Mishra is the State Correspondent for Chhattisgarh with Hindustan Times. He reports on Maoism, internal security, politics, mining, governance, and major developments shaping the state. Based in Raipur, he has covered Chhattisgarh since 2016, reporting extensively from the Bastar region and other conflict-affected areas. With nearly two decades of experience in journalism, Ritesh has built a reputation for ground reporting from some of India's most challenging terrains. His coverage spans Left-Wing Extremism, counter-insurgency operations, elections, tribal affairs, environmental issues, infrastructure, mining, and socio-economic developments. He has reported on major security operations, policy initiatives, wildlife crime, and the changing dynamics of conflict and development in Central India. Before moving to Chhattisgarh, Ritesh spent eight years reporting from Madhya Pradesh, covering politics, administration, crime, development, and social issues. Throughout his career, he has reported on various forms of extremism in Central India, combining field reporting with in-depth analysis to produce accurate, balanced, and impactful journalism. Prior to joining Hindustan Times, Ritesh worked with The Pioneer and The Free Press Journal, where he covered a wide range of beats and honed his skills in political, investigative, and field reporting. His reporting is marked by exclusive stories, extensive fieldwork, and a commitment to factual, on-the-ground journalism that brings complex issues to a wider audience.Read More

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