Haryana Congress Cleans House: 13 Leaders Expelled for Going Rogue Ahead of 2024 Elections – Ticket Rejections Fuel Rebellion!
Chandigarh – In a major move ahead of the 2024 Haryana Assembly elections, the Congress party has expelled 13 leaders for six years due to their involvement in anti-party activities. These leaders, who have filed nominations as independent candidates, were found to be contesting against Congress's own candidates, prompting the disciplinary action.
The expelled leaders include Naresh Dhande, Pradeep Gill, Sajjan Singh Dhull, Sunita Battan, Rajeev Mamuram Gondar, Dayal Singh Sirohi, Vijay Jain, Dilbagh Sandhil, Ajit Phogat, Abhijeet Singh, Satbir Ratera, Neetu Maan, and Anita Dhull. These leaders are running as independents in various constituencies, challenging Congress’s official candidates.
In an official statement, Haryana Congress noted that reports from various sources indicated that these individuals were engaging in activities that directly opposed the party's interests by contesting against its nominated candidates. "To maintain discipline within the party, these leaders have been expelled for six years," the statement read.
Independent Candidates Challenge Congress on 12 Seats
Several of the expelled leaders are contesting independently in key constituencies. For instance, Dilbagh Sandhil is contesting from Uchana, Naresh Dhande from Guhla, Pradeep Gill from Jind, and Sajjan Singh Dhull and Sunita Battan from Pundri. Others, such as Ajit Phogat (Dadri) and Vijay Jain (Panipat Rural), are also running independently.
Additionally, Rajeev Mamuram and Dayal Singh Sirohi are contesting from Nilokheri, Abhijeet Singh from Bhiwani, Satbir Ratera from Bawani Khera, and Neetu Maan from Prithla.
Previous Expulsions for Rebellion
Earlier, Congress had expelled three other leaders: Chitra Sarwara, Rajesh June, and Sharda Rathore. Sarwara, who is contesting from Ambala Cantt, decided to run independently even though her father had received a party ticket. Similarly, Rajesh June is running from Bahadurgarh, and Sharda Rathore from Ballabgarh.
Rebellion Following Ticket Denials
The expulsion comes after several party leaders expressed dissatisfaction over being denied tickets. While Congress was able to placate some of these disgruntled leaders, others chose to defy the party and run independently. This rebellious streak has now led to the party taking stern action to maintain internal discipline.
With these expulsions, Congress aims to send a strong message to its leaders and workers about the consequences of violating party rules, particularly in the run-up to the crucial 2024 elections.
