Why Did BJP Expel Four Rebel Leaders in Bihar?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- BJP's expulsion of rebel leaders aims to maintain party discipline.
- Coalition unity is crucial for the NDA ahead of the 2025 elections.
- Expelled leaders plan to continue their campaigns despite their removal.
- Political analysts see this as a strategic move to curb dissent.
- Earlier, JD(U) expelled 16 leaders for similar reasons.
Patna, Oct 27 (NationPress) As the election campaign heats up for the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections, political factions are reinforcing internal discipline to showcase a unified front. In a significant development, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) expelled four dissenting leaders for a period of six years due to accusations of indiscipline and anti-party activities.
Expulsion letters were dispatched from the office of Arvind Sharma, who oversees the BJP's operations in Bihar.
The expelled members include Varun Singh from Bahadurganj, Anoop Kumar from Gopalganj, Pawan Yadav of Kahalgaon, and Surya Bhan Singh from Barhara. These leaders were contesting elections independently or with rival parties against the officially supported candidates of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
Party authorities noted that this action was essential to uphold organizational discipline and solidarity within the NDA, which comprises the BJP, Janata Dal (United), Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM), and Rastriya Lok Morcha (RLM).
As part of their arrangement, both the BJP and JD(U) are contesting 101 seats each, with LJPRV on 29 seats, while HAM and RLM are competing for six seats each.
Despite their removal, the expelled leaders plan to persist with their electoral campaigns, highlighting the escalating challenges of managing dissent within the coalition.
A senior BJP representative indicated that this expulsion should act as a cautionary tale for other potential rebels.
Previously, the Janata Dal (United), under Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, similarly expelled 16 rebel leaders in a span of two days due to anti-party behavior.
Prominent figures among those ousted included former minister Shailesh Kumar, current MLA Gopal Mandal, and former MLAs Shyam Bahadur Singh and Sudarshan Kumar, along with several ex-MLCs and local leaders.
JD(U) State General Secretary Chandan Kumar Singh issued the expulsion orders, asserting that these individuals were acting against party and alliance interests.
Political analysts interpret these expulsions as a coordinated strategy by NDA partners to mitigate internal dissent and present a cohesive front ahead of the crucial assembly elections in Bihar.