Now,BJP suspends convicted corporator

The Bharatiya Janata Party has suspended PMC corporator Datta Khade,who has been convicted of murder.

The Bharatiya Janata Party has suspended PMC corporator Datta Khade,who has been convicted of murder. Khade is at present serving a life sentence at the Yerwada jail.

The decision to suspend him from the party was apparently taken last week. Confirming the party decision,BJP city chief Girish Bapat said Khade was served a notice a week ago. We had given him seven days to reply to the notice. There was no reply and so we decided to suspend him.

Ahead of the Assembly elections,the BJP is trying to project a clean image much like the NCP,which has also acted against its Osmanabad MP Padamsinh Patil who has been arrested by the CBI in connection with a murder case.

A senior BJP member said efforts are being made to present a good image of the party before the public in a bid to win over the lost voters.

However,the Pune Municipal Corporation is yet to take any decision on Khade. A BJP corporator said the PMC should also suspend him. A notice has been issued. We do not want to comment on the delay in action by the PMC.

According to Section 13 of the Bombay Provincial Municipal Corporation Act,1949,Khade can be dismissed by the state government or by the municipal authority.

Khade was awarded life sentence for the murder of former wrestler and construction material supplier Rajesh Pardeshi. He is the first sitting corporator in the PMC to be convicted in a serious crime. He was named a suspect in 21 crimes earlier.

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