After withdrawing support from Ramesh Pokhriyal led Bhartya Janta Party (BJP) government, Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (UKD) headed towards another spit on Tuesday as party expelled Diwakar Bhatt, cabinet minister from UKD.
Bhatt, the UKD MLA and food and civil supplies minister in BJP government had voiced against party decision to pull support from government last week. “Party had sought an explanation from Bhatt on his anti-party activities but he did not responded. Party has now decided to expel him for life long” told Trivendra Singh Panwar, UKD president to HT on Tuesday. He claimed Bhatt was also responsible for earlier splits in UKD – in 1996, 2002 and 2005 and again he has shown no respect for party decision.
“We will take action against those leaders too who had supported Bhatt. Two other leaders including chief spokesman has already been removed from post” added Panwar. He blamed BJP for engineering ‘differences’ in UKD.
It is learnt UKD extended support to BJP in Uttarakhand in 2007 after latter fall short of numbers for forming government. UKD, which has 3 MLA’s in state assembly, withdrew support from BJP government on December 27, 2010. This decision was pooh-poohed by section of party leaders including Diwakar Bhatt, cabinet minister. HT tried to contact Bhatt but he was not available for comments.
{{/usCountry}}It is learnt UKD extended support to BJP in Uttarakhand in 2007 after latter fall short of numbers for forming government. UKD, which has 3 MLA’s in state assembly, withdrew support from BJP government on December 27, 2010. This decision was pooh-poohed by section of party leaders including Diwakar Bhatt, cabinet minister. HT tried to contact Bhatt but he was not available for comments.
{{/usCountry}}Meanwhile UKD leaders will meet later in day to choose new leader of UKD legislative party.