Expulsion threat looms over BJP MLA Manvendra Singh

JAIPUR: Rajasthan BJP today escalated pressure on a sulking party MLA Shiv Manvendra Singh, son of expelled leader Jaswant Singh, asking him to quit the party or face disciplinary action and disqualification proceedings for alleged anti-party activities

"Manvendra Singh, who is campaigning against the official candidate of the party Sona Ram in Barmer Lok Sabha seat should first quit the party on moral grounds as it amounts to anti-party activities or face disciplinary action soon," state BJP vice president Onkar Singh Lakhawat told reporters here.

Manvendra, who is son of expelled BJP leader and rebel candidate in Barmer, Jaswant Singh, has been attending his father's meeting against the party's official candidate.

"BJP is keeping all options open against Manvendra Singh. It will write to Assembly speaker for his disqualification, or expel him from the party as Manvendra and his father Jaswant are speaking openly against the party's ideology and working for the last one week," Lakhawat said.

"Manvendra is virtually violating the party's guidelines and principles by attending his father's meeting against the party's official candidate, which amounts to gross indiscipline," he said.

Party was expecting a report from the district unit and take decision in respect of Manvendra's alleged activities in the election process soon, the BJP leader added.

When contacted, Manvendra told PTI, "I don't want to give any statement on this issue."