The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) has "expelled" two of its senior leaders – national general secretary and in-charge of Vidarbha region, Telanga, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh Suresh Mane and state general secretary Kishore Gajbhiye – over "indiscipline and disobeying the national leadership".
A decision in this regard was taken at a high-level meeting at the BSP national headquarters in Lucknow on June 26. A few senior state leaders were also ousted over "indiscipline". All are said to be close to Mane.
Mane and Gajbhiye, however, claimed that they resigned from the primary membership of the party. The two leaders' leaving the party has fuelled speculations of a split in the state BSP even before it could make a mark in Maharashtra and win a single assembly seat.
The party's controversial and delayed decision of not contesting the Bhandara and Gondia zilla parishad polls in the first week of July, despite being in strong position, is said to be the prime reason behind the factionalism. The two expelled leaders alleged that the BSP pulled out of the zilla parishad polls in order to benefit the BJP, which was seeking to grow in NCP bastions.
Party's state president Vilas Garud, however, claimed that the decision to expel Mane was taken by party chief Mayawati, while Gajbhiye was removed by the state unit following "directions" from her.
"Mane had ceased to work for the party. He used the BSP for personal networking but ignored the responsibilities given to him. Behenji told him to toe the line but he didn't pay heed. He also fanned anti-party activities and supported "rebels" of Bhandara and Gondia, who are contesting local elections as independent candidates despite party's decision of not contesting," claimed Garud, insisting that the party was not contesting the two ZP polls because of lack of strength as Mane had failed to deliver as in-charge of the region.
Garud insisted, "Gajbhiye was expelled over indiscipline as he chose not to attend the crucial Lucknow meeting convened by Behenji."
Mane, a retired law professor of Mumbai University, claimed,"I resigned because the party was going nowhere and my suggestions were being ignored. I am supporting Bhandara and Gondia members who are contesting as independent candidates purely because I feel the party's decision (to not contest) is wrong. BSP candidates came second and third in some of the constituencies in the assembly elections of 2014. This was encouraging, considering that this is NCP stalwart Praful Patel's area."
Gajbhiye denied indiscipline charges and said he skipped the Lucknow meet as he knew the outcome. He also questioned the state BSP's decision of not contesting the two ZP polls despite "good chances" and "hardwork" of the members.
