Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former minister Rohitash Sharma was expelled from the party for six years on charges of breach of discipline. BJP state president Satish Poonia issued the letter to expel Sharma from the primary membership of the party, HT has learnt.
Sharma, who is considered close to former Rajasthan chief minister Vasundhara Raje, was issued a show-cause notice last month for making anti-party statements.
The former minister had said that the party’s state leaders were running the party sitting in the offices and not going to villages.
He had held the party’s state leaders responsible for the results in bypolls held on three seats, in which the ruling Congress comfortably retained two seats while the BJP retained the third seat in May.
BJP spokesperson and MLA Ram Lal Sharma said Sharma has been expelled for six years by state party chief Satish Poonia as he was constantly, for the last many days, making statements against the party in public.
Sharma was first given notice on June 24, and after his reply, was constantly giving statements against the party. The party’s disciplinary committee took it seriously and on its recommendation, Poonia expelled him.
Commenting on the expulsion, Sharma told media persons, “I just want to say that those who have expelled me have misused the post out of animosity. There was no reason to expel and I had done no indiscipline activity or made any statement against the party.”
{{/usCountry}}Commenting on the expulsion, Sharma told media persons, “I just want to say that those who have expelled me have misused the post out of animosity. There was no reason to expel and I had done no indiscipline activity or made any statement against the party.”
{{/usCountry}}“I just stated that 22-years back, the state party chief used insulting words against the party and its leaders, resigned and left the party…what disciplinary action can be taken by such a person? BJP is my mother and will never cheat the party. I will fight for my rights. I have been expelled due to personal animosity. I will fight for justice and approach the Prime Minister, Amit Shah and national party chief,” said Sharma.
“I have been a student of experienced leaders and trained under them. I never use insulting or derogatory language,” he said.
Political analyst Manish Godha said, “Sharma is known to be close to former CM Vasundhara Raje, his expulsion is also a message to others who were making statements in support of Raje. He was not the only leader making a statement in support of Raje and questioning the party but among them probably was the one who could cause less damage as the rest were sitting MLAs and others”.