BJP MLA Gautam continues tirade against own party

BJP MLA Ram Kumar Gautam, who was removed as legislature party leader on Monday by the state party president over his continued opposition to the party’s political alliance with the Indian National Lok Dal continues to be defiant.

BJP MLA Ram Kumar Gautam, who was removed as legislature party leader on Monday by the state party president over his continued opposition to the party’s political alliance with the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD), continues to be defiant.

Addressing a press conference here today, Gautam said the BJP-INLD alliance would not make it hard for the BJP to secure even one seat in the state.

Gautam, who has been replaced by Naresh Malik as legislature party leader in the Haryana Vidhan Sabha, alleged that the party removed him from the post without waiting for a reply to the show-cause notice served on him over his alleged anti-party activities.

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He also distributed copies of an open letter to the BJP’s national president Rajnath Singh, demanding sacking of state BJP president Atam Prakash Manchanda, BJP Haryana affairs incharge Vijay Goel and co-incharge Harjit Grewal.

“I am opposing the alliance as, as expected by top leaders, INLD’s Jat votes will not get transferred to the BJP; rather its own vote bank will drift away. I want the BJP to rectify the mistake of having aligned with the INLD,” he said. Asked if he was thinking of joining some other party, Gautam said he wanted to be with the BJP, but if the party did not want him he would think of some other alternative.

“I will continue opposing the alliance and it is for the party to decide the future course of action,” he added.