Acharya Pramod Krishnam

Krishnam, who contested the 2019 Lok Sabha polls from Lucknow (against Rajnath Singh) on a Congress ticket but lost, had recently praised PM Narendra Modi for the Ram temple consecration in Ayodhya and criticised the Congress’ stance of its leadership skipping the event.

“In view of complaints about indiscipline and repeatedly making statement against the party, Congress president has approved the Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee’s proposal to expel Shri Pramod Krishnam for six years with immediate effect,” a statement issued by Congress general secretary (organisation) K C Venugopal said.

In 2014, Acharya Pramod had unsuccessfully contested the Lok Sabha elections from UP's Sambhal.

Acharya Pramod was earlier a part of the Congress' Uttar Pradesh advisory council, formed to assist Priyanka Gandhi Vadra in her role as UP in-charge for the party.

The Indian Express reported that one of the reasons for Acharya Pramod sulking could be the Samajwadi Party's decision to declare candidates for both Sambhal and Lucknow, which he has been eyeing.

Born on January 4, 1965, in a Brahmin family in Bihar He founded the Shri Kalki Foundation in Sambhal and is also the Peethadhishwar of the Kalki Dham.

The Acharya joined the Congress and contested the Lok Sabha elections in 2014 from Sambhal but lost.