The disciplinary committee of the Madhya Pradesh unit of the Congress has initiated a series of actions by issuing show-cause notices to approximately 150 local leaders on allegations of participating in "anti-party" activities during the November 2023 state assembly polls. This move, executed on Friday, entails a stipulated period of 10 days for the concerned leaders to provide responses; otherwise, stringent measures, including expulsion from the party, will be enforced, as outlined by a high-ranking party official.
The genesis of this action can be traced back to the aftermath of the assembly poll results, where the Congress secured a mere 66 seats in the 230-member House. Additionally, this stringent measure is perceived as an integral component of the party's broader strategy to restructure itself before the impending general elections, emphasizing a zero-tolerance policy towards internal acts of sabotage and indiscipline.
The Congress's resolute position is prompted by a deluge of complaints from a majority of the 164 nominees who faced defeat in the polls, attributing their losses to "internal sabotage." The issuance of show-cause notices occurred after a meeting of the state Congress's disciplinary committee on Friday.
In an official statement, the chief of the disciplinary committee and MPCC treasurer, Ashok Singh, cautioned that the party would contemplate taking punitive action against those found guilty of engaging in "anti-party" activities. A senior Congress functionary further conveyed to PTI that in the absence of a satisfactory explanation from the recipients of the notices, expulsion from the party would be a likely outcome.
During the disciplinary committee's meeting, members unequivocally supported the decision to expel party rebels who contested the assembly polls in defiance of official candidates. The Congress has previously ousted many such rebels who opposed the leadership and ran against the party's chosen candidates.
It is imperative to note that the assembly elections witnessed the sweeping victory of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), securing 163 seats and consolidating its dominance in the state.
