BJP Suspended 58 Leaders in Gurugram

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has suspended 58 party leaders in Gurugram district for what it terms "anti-party activities." The suspensions were announced late night on February 24, target party members who chose to contest as Independent candidates against officially nominated BJP contestants. 

High-Profile Names Among the Suspended

The suspension list includes several prominent local leaders, most notably former Gurugram Mayor Vimal Yadav. Other significant names include ex-councillors Ashwani Sharma from Ward 13 and Rama Rani Rathee, who have apparently maintained their BJP connections while contesting independently. 

The disciplinary action affects 44 leaders from Gurugram city, 13 from Manesar, and one from Pataudi, all suspended for a period of six years. According to Gurugram BJP district president Kamal Yadav, these suspended members were "misleading people about the party's support and trying to lay stake on BJP's loyal vote bank." 

Voter Confusion and Campaign Controversies 

These leaders continue to woo voters with their past association with the party which leads to confusion among the voters about the right candidate. Many are using pictures of Senior BJP leaders like Badhshapur MLA Rao Narbir Singh and Gurugram MP Rao Inderjit Singh in their campaign materials, despite both senior leaders distancing themselves from Independent candidates.

"The tickets for municipal corporation elections were given through a collective party decision. Instead of supporting official candidates, these leaders filed Independent nominations and misled voters into believing they had party backing," explained Kamal Yadav. 

In Ward 15, where tensions have been particularly high, BJP candidate Bharti Harsana filed a complaint alleging that Independent candidate and former councillor Praveen Lata Yadav, her husband Rakesh Yadav, and local Residents Welfare Association president Neeraj Yadav were actively obstructing her campaign and preventing her from reaching voters. All three named in the complaint have been included in the suspension list.

Demands for Permanent Action

Some official BJP candidates have expressed concerns that even the six-year suspension may not be enough. Bharti Harsana has claimed that the suspended leaders are telling voters they will be reinstated shortly after the elections. 

"They are telling people that the party will take them back within 15 days after the polls," Harsana said. "Their suspension should be made permanent to protect the party's integrity." 

Another controversy involves ex-councillor Ashwani Sharma, who had initially put up campaign materials featuring the BJP symbol and images of MP Rao Inderjit Singh before filing nomination as an Independent. BJP candidate from his ward, Pawan Saini, has accused Sharma of deliberately misleading voters about his party affiliation.