Harak Singh expelled for seeking two tickets

DEHRADUN: The BJP removed Harak Singh Rawat from the Uttarakhand cabinet and expelled him from the party’s primary membership for six years for demanding two tickets – one for him and another for his daughter-in-law – for the assembly elections and approaching the Congress, party leaders said, but the expelled leader refuted the charge.

Speaking to media persons, Rawat denied that he had asked for two tickets. “The BJP leadership believed some social media reports that I am joining Congress and expelled me in haste without verifying it from me,” Rawat said.

In a late-night development on Sunday that will have ramifications on assembly elections, the BJP expelled Rawat who was the cabinet minister for forest, wildlife and labour.

According to the BJP leadership, the decision was taken following Rawat’s demand for tickets for his daughter-in-law from Lansdowne seat and for himself from Doiwala seat. At present he is the MLA from Kotdwar and former chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawat represents Doiwala seat in Dehradun.

Speaking on the decision, chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said, “During the party’s core committee and election committee meetings held to discuss the candidates for the elections, he (Rawat) had demanded two tickets -- one for his daughter-in-law and another for himself. This was against the party’s principle of one ticket for one family, which the party conveyed to him. But he remained adamant, leading to this decision.”

On the effect of the decision on the party, Dhami said, “There is no crack in the organisation. The party is united for the elections. But those who are not working as per the party norms will have to face such action as discipline is foremost in the organisation.”

Party state in-charge Dushyant Kumar Gautam said, “The party has a clear principle of one ticket to one family. But Rawat despite being a senior leader of the party was adamant for two tickets. We said that it is not possible. Only one ticket will be given.” Gautam added, “He was also asking for a ticket to contest from a seat other than his present one, which again was not acceptable.”