Ghaziabad: BSP leadership expel two who contested polls following release of tapes

Earlier, Naseemuddin, a one-time confidant of Mayawati, had alleged that she had demanded Rs50 crore after the assembly election. He had released tapes to support his charge. In the tapes, the BSP chief is alleged to have directed him to fulfil her orders and collect money from candidates

The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) leadership on Saturday expelled a former MLA and another UP assembly polls contestant on charges of ‘anti-party activities.’ The move comes after expelled national general secretary, Naseemuddin Siddiqui, had alleged that BSP chief Mayawati had demanded money. Naseemuddin had also released some tapes in this regard.

The BSP leadership expelled former MLA Wahab Chaudhary, who contested recent UP assembly election from Modi Nagar, and Jalaluddin Siddiqui, who contested the election from Sahibabad. (Subhankar Chakraborty/HT FILE PHOTO)

The BSP leadership expelled former MLA Wahab Chaudhary, who contested recent UP assembly election from Modi Nagar, and Jalaluddin Siddiqui, who contested the election from Sahibabad.

In the audio tapes released by Naseemuddin, several names and ‘Ghaziabad’ had figured during the alleged conversations. The two who were expelled are also stated to be close to Naseemuddin Siddiqui.

However, the district office bearers of the BSP deny the expulsion as anything linked to the allegations by Siddiqui or the tapes episode.

“Both Wahab and Jalauddin were expelled on charges of anti-party activities. They did not pay attention to party activities and harassed workers. Their expulsion has nothing to do with the tapes,” said Ramprasad Pradhan, BSP’s district president.

Earlier, Naseemuddin, a one-time confidant of Mayawati, had alleged that she had demanded Rs50 crore after the assembly election. He had released tapes to support his charge. In the tapes, the BSP chief is alleged to have directed him to fulfil her orders and collect money from candidates.

“I heard about my expulsion but haven’t received a letter so far. When they (BSP chief) are expelling party’s bigger leaders, I am just a small worker,” said Chaudhary.

Jalaluddin Siddiqui said that he had already quit the party after Naseemuddin Siddiqui was expelled. “I had left the party when Naseemuddin Siddiqui was expelled. If they sent an expulsion letter now, it is just a face-saving tactic. I will make some revelations in this regard shortly,” Jalaluddin said.

Both Wahab and Jalaluddin lost the elections. They were defeated comprehensively by Bharatiya Janata Party candidates.