New Delhi: Veteran leader Jaswant Singh was yesterday expelled from the BJP after he refused to withdraw his nomination as an independent from Rajasthan’s Barmer parliamentary constituency, party sources said. He has been expelled for six years. Singh was upset over ex-Congress leader Sona Ram Choudhary being given the BJP ticket from Barmer, his home turf, and filed his nomination as an independent Monday, daring the party to sack him. “I will not say goodbye till the party says goodbye,” he said. The party leaders had indicated they were waiting to see if he withdraws his nomination. However, as the last day for withdrawal ended Saturday with Jaswant Singh still in the fray, the decision to expel him was taken. Jaswant Singh has maintained that no party leader approached him over the issue. On Monday, he had said it was a mistake to rejoin the BJP, especially after the way he had been expelled. “Perhaps it was an emotional weakness that I joined the BJP again though all my relatives and friends had sought to dissuade me.”
Sabir Ali out of BJP amid protests
New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party yesterday cancelled the membership of Sabir Ali, a day after he was accepted in the party fold, amid protests from within. “The membership of Sabir Ali stands annulled from the BJP,” party leader Ravi Shankar Prasad said. Ali joined the BJP after being expelled from the Janata Dal-United. BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi openly expressed dissent over BJP’s decision to accept him in the party. “Terrorist Bhatakal friend join BJP...soon accepting Dawood...” Naqvi had tweeted. There are allegations on social media that Indian Mujahideen co-founder Yaseen Bhatkal was arrested from Sabir Ali’s house. Ali said he was innocent and said he would quit politics if his involvement is proved. IANS
