Cong expulsions kick up row

Mumbai, May 25: With both the Congress party and Sharad Pawar's group expelling'' legislators siding with the opposite camp, the stage ...

Mumbai, May 25: With both the Congress party and Sharad Pawar8217;s group 8220;expelling8221; legislators siding with the opposite camp, the stage is set for a new controversy over rules and laws before a clean split can be effected in the Congress Legislature Party CLP.

Pawar8217;s pointman, Chhagan Bhujbal, who was the Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council but was expelled yesterday from the party, claimed that the Pradesh Congress Committee does not have the right to expel him or take away his status as CLP leader. Instead, he expelled six MLCs from the CLP 8212; identified as party loyalists 8212; a day before his own expulsion!

Interestingly, Madhukar Pichad, also a Pawar faithful and Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, is still recuperating in Kerala but has taken similar action against nine MLAs. Pichad, in fact, went a step further and changed the party whip by appiointing Dilip Valse-Patil, a Pawar man, in place of party loyalist Rohidas Patil. Valse-Patil has reportedly taken possession of the party8217;soffice in the legislature.

Both Bhujbal and Pichad have written letters to this effect to the chairman of the Legislative Council and Speaker of the Assembly. Curiously, Bhujbal8217;s letter is dated May 23, the day Pawar convened a special meeting of his supporters and a day before he Bhujbal was expelled. Pichad8217;s letters are dated May 24 but reached the Speaker8217;s office hours before the PCC announced the mass expulsion.

8220;I challenge the PCC president8217;s right to expel me and remove me from the post of CLP leader. This can be done pnly by CLP members. In fact, I have sacked six MLCs from the CLP who were opposed to Sharad Pawar,8221; said Bhujbal. In the other camp, PCC office-bearers challenged his and Pichad8217;s right to expel legislators.

With PCC president Prataprao Bhosale and senior leaders busy with AICC session in New Delhi today, the party is expected to assess the situation tomorrow and take action. The PCC has called for a meeting of CLP members on May 31 at party headquarters and CLP membersbelieve the controversy will be sorted out then.

What has complicated the issue further is that Bhujbal8217;s move has been endorsed by the acting chairman of the council, Vasant Davkhare, incidentally a Pawar loyalist. He is officiating in the absence of chairman NS Pharande who is on leave. Also, Assembly speaker Dattaji Nalwade seems inclined to accept Pichad8217;s letters.

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Meanwhile, many pro-Pawar legislators are agitated over their expulsion. 8220;I am an elected member, elected by the people. How can a person who is nominated to his post sack me? This is a big farce. I continue to be a legislator,8221; said Digvijay Khanvilkar, one of the MLAs expelled from the party yesterday. The Pawar group is now moving swiftly to nominate local leaders so that a sizeable section of the party can be wooed before the June 10 launch of his new party.

Bhujbal has been appointed as chairperson of the reception committee while Gurunath Kulkarni will be the official secretary. Vidya Belose, MLC who was also expelled yesterday,will head the women8217;s wing. The June 10 meeting will be held at Shanmukhananda Hall and will be followed by a public rally at Shivaji Park.